Box Score

MORAGA, Calif. --- The Saint Mary’s Gaels made 9-of-17 three-pointers and held off a late rally by the Portland Pilots for a 77-72 victory Saturday evening before a sold out crowd of 3,500 at McKeon Pavilion. Senior forward Robin Smeulders recorded a career-high 29 points with eight rebounds to continue his stellar play in West Coast Conference action, but senior center Omar Samhan led Saint Mary’s back from a halftime deficit and finished with 28 points to lift the Gaels to victory.

Saint Mary’s improves to 16-3 overall and 3-1 in the WCC, while Portland falls to 10-7 and 1-2 in league play.

The game featured five ties and 15 lead changes before Samhan scored back-to-back baskets to give the Gaels their largest lead of the night at 65:53 with 4:04 remaining, but the Pilots rallied and cut the deficit to 69-67 with 56 seconds remaining. After Ben Allen missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free throw, Pilot senior Ethan Niedermeyer had a long jumper rim off. After two free throws by Samhan and a dunk by Nik Raivio at the other end, Allen redeemed himself with two at the foul line for a 73-69 lead with 22 seconds left. Pilot guard T.J. Campbell raced to the other end and got to the rim but missed a runner and the Gaels hit free throws to seal the win.

 

Saint Mary’s entered the game shooting 41 percent from the three-point line and bettered that with a perimeter clinic. Senior forward Ben Allen battled foul trouble, but finished 4-for-5 from beyond the arc and with 16 points. Junior point guard Mickey McConnell was 2-for-3 from downtown and finished with 17 points.

Smeulders entered the game averaging 21.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in two WCC games and bettered those numbers by going 10-for-14 from the field and 9-for-12 from the foul line. Nik Raivio and Campbell joined Smeulders in double figures with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Portland committed just nine turnovers and shot 48 percent from the field, but struggled to a 5-for-15 performance from the three-point line. The Gaels shot 49 percent from the floor and also took care of the ball with just six turnovers. Portland continued its solid play on the boards with a 35-28 rebounding advantage. The Pilots gained an 18-4 edge in second chance points.

Smeulders led the way in the first half with 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while Samhan was held to four points in the half. There were five ties and 12 lead changes in the first period and neither team led by more than four, but the Pilots took a 31-30 lead into the break.

Portland returns home and continues WCC play next week against Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine. The Pilots host LMU on Thursday at 7 p.m. and Pepperdine on Saturday at 7 p.m. Saturday will also be Scout Night (Boy Scout tickets for $6 in advance) and Mascot Night.