MARYCA

USD

Preview not available

Saxen, No. 17 Gaels hold off determined San Diego 62-59

AP
Feb 17, 2023

SAN DIEGO (AP) Mitchell Saxen had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Aidan Mahaney added 13 points for the No. 17 Saint Mary's Gaels, who didn't score in the last 7:05 yet held off hobbled but determined San Diego 62-59 Thursday night for their 14th win in 15 games.

The Gaels (23-5, 12-1 West Coast Conference), who lead Gonzaga atop the WCC with three games to play, went ahead 54-31 on a 3-pointer by Mahaney with 14:17 left but let the Toreros slowly get back into the game. The Gaels missed their final seven field goal attempts and 16 of their last 18 shots.

''Not very good offensively,'' Saint Mary's coach Randy Bennett said. ''They did a good job; they kept believing, kept hustling. We did not do a good job down the stretch. Turnovers, missing shots, missing free throws.''

Saxen made two free throws with 7:05 to go for a 62-46 lead. They were the Gaels' final points.

San Diego closed to 62-58 with 32.3 seconds left on a layup by Wayne McKinney III. The Toreros trapped and Augustas Marciulionis lost the ball out of bounds with 14.4 seconds remaining.

McKinney was fouled on a layup but made just one of two free throws to make it 62-59. Mahaney missed the front end of a one-and-one with two seconds left and USD's Neel Beniwal missed a desperation heave from three-quarter court at the buzzer.

Marciulionis had 11 points for Saint Mary's.

Nic Lynch scored 17 points and Beniwal added 11 for USD (11-17, 4-10). The Toreros were without four regular starters, including leading scorer Marcellus Earlington (17.6 points per game) and leading rebounder Eric Williams Jr. (9.5 per game).

Saint Mary's shot just 39.1% from the floor in the second half after shooting 53.8% on its way to a 39-20 halftime lead.

''We've got to get better. Our guards have got to get better,'' Bennett said.

The Gaels led 12-11 midway through the first half and then began pulling away. They scored the last 14 points of the half behind strong inside play from Saxen and two 3-pointers by Marciulionis, the son of Hall of Famer Sarunas Marciulionis.

Marciulionis had three 3-pointers in the first half.

''They've been down some guys and so it's hard for them to score,'' Bennett said. ''Steve (Lavin) did a great job keeping them rallied up, playing, changing defenses up, and we did not do a good job handling it.''

BIG PICTURE

Saint Mary's: The Gaels have won two straight after a 78-74 overtime loss at Loyola Marymount snapped a 12-game winning streak.

San Diego: The Toreros, in their first season under Lavin, didn't have the talent or size to keep up with the Gaels in the first half. San Diego was swept in the season series, having lost 85-58 at Saint Mary's on Dec. 29.

UP NEXT

Saint Mary's hosts BYU on Saturday night.

San Diego is at No. 13 Gonzaga next Thursday night.

---

AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

1st Half
SMC
Gaels
39
USD
Toreros
20

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Mitchell Saxen vs. Steven Jamerson II (Aidan Mahaney gains possession)
19:37		Aidan Mahaney misses three point jump shot
19:35		Jase Townsend defensive rebound
19:15	+2	Nic Lynch makes two point hook shot	0-2
18:57		Alex Ducas misses three point jump shot
18:55		Deuce Turner defensive rebound
18:50		Jase Townsend misses three point jump shot
18:48		Alex Ducas defensive rebound
18:39	+2	Kyle Bowen makes two point jump shot (Mitchell Saxen assists)	2-2
18:23		Deuce Turner misses two point jump shot
18:21		Toreros offensive rebound
18:13		Deuce Turner turnover (bad pass) (Kyle Bowen steals)
18:05		Alex Ducas turnover (bad pass) (Wayne McKinney III steals)
18:00		Aidan Mahaney shooting foul (Wayne McKinney III draws the foul)
18:00	+1	Wayne McKinney III makes regular free throw 1 of 2	2-3
18:00	+1	Wayne McKinney III makes regular free throw 2 of 2	2-4
17:32	+2	Kyle Bowen makes two point layup (Logan Johnson assists)	4-4
17:06		Wayne McKinney III misses two point layup
17:04		Logan Johnson defensive rebound
16:52		Alex Ducas misses two point jump shot
16:50		Nic Lynch defensive rebound
16:39		Nic Lynch misses three point jump shot
16:37		Kyle Bowen defensive rebound
16:21		Steven Jamerson II personal foul (Mitchell Saxen draws the foul)
16:16		Nic Lynch shooting foul (Mitchell Saxen draws the foul)
16:16	+1	Mitchell Saxen makes regular free throw 1 of 2	5-4
16:16		Mitchell Saxen misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:16		Steven Jamerson II defensive rebound
15:49		Alex Ducas blocks Deuce Turner's two point layup
15:47		Alex Ducas defensive rebound
15:34	+2	Mitchell Saxen makes two point layup (Aidan Mahaney assists)	7-4
15:11		Kyle Bowen personal foul (Jase Townsend draws the foul)
15:11		TV timeout
14:59		Jase Townsend misses two point layup
14:58		Logan Johnson defensive rebound
14:58		Steven Jamerson II personal foul (Logan Johnson draws the foul)
14:39		Logan Johnson misses three point jump shot
14:37		Mitchell Saxen offensive rebound
14:29	+3	Alex Ducas makes three point jump shot (Mitchell Saxen assists)	10-4
14:20	+2	Nic Lynch makes two point layup (Wayne McKinney III assists)	10-6
14:05		Alex Ducas misses three point jump shot
14:03		Jase Townsend defensive rebound
13:54		Jase Townsend misses two point jump shot
13:52		Alex Ducas defensive rebound
13:42	+2	Aidan Mahaney makes two point layup	12-6
13:14		Jase Townsend misses three point jump shot
13:12		Kyle Bowen defensive rebound
13:09		Neel Beniwal personal foul (Kyle Bowen draws the foul)
12:50		Kyle Bowen misses two point jump shot
12:48		Toreros defensive rebound
12:48		Mitchell Saxen personal foul
12:30	+3	Neel Beniwal makes three point jump shot (Deuce Turner assists)	12-9
12:16		Jeremiah Nyarko personal foul (Mitchell Saxen draws the foul)
12:15		Alex Ducas misses three point jump shot
12:13		Mitchell Saxen offensive rebound
12:04		Toreros offensive rebound
12:10		Mitchell Saxen turnover (lost ball) (Deven Dahlke steals)
12:06		Logan Johnson blocks Deven Dahlke's two point layup
12:04		Toreros offensive rebound
12:02		Deuce Turner misses two point jump shot
12:00		Joshua Jefferson defensive rebound
11:49		Aidan Mahaney misses three point jump shot
11:47		Deven Dahlke defensive rebound
11:37		Deven Dahlke misses three point jump shot
11:35		Alex Ducas defensive rebound
11:23		Joshua Jefferson turnover (traveling)
11:23		TV timeout
10:58		Deven Dahlke misses two point layup
10:56		Mitchell Saxen defensive rebound
10:40		Augustas Marciulionis misses two point jump shot
10:38		Neel Beniwal defensive rebound
10:25	+2	Deuce Turner makes two point jump shot	12-11
10:13	+2	Mitchell Saxen makes two point layup (Joshua Jefferson assists)	14-11
9:59		Jeremiah Nyarko misses three point jump shot
9:57		Alex Ducas defensive rebound
9:44		Joshua Jefferson misses two point jump shot
9:42		Alex Ducas offensive rebound
9:36		Deven Dahlke kicked ball violation
9:23	+3	Aidan Mahaney makes three point jump shot (Augustas Marciulionis assists)	17-11
8:58		Deuce Turner turnover (bad pass) (Augustas Marciulionis steals)
8:45	+3	Augustas Marciulionis makes three point jump shot (Joshua Jefferson assists)	20-11
8:13	+2	Deven Dahlke makes two point layup	20-13
8:01	+2	Mitchell Saxen makes two point layup (Joshua Jefferson assists)	22-13
7:48		TV timeout
7:47		Jase Townsend turnover (bad pass)
7:23		Deven Dahlke shooting foul (Logan Johnson draws the foul)
7:23	+1	Logan Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	23-13
7:23		Logan Johnson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:23		Nic Lynch defensive rebound
7:03	+3	Neel Beniwal makes three point jump shot (Deven Dahlke assists)	23-16
6:42		Kyle Bowen turnover (bad pass)
6:33	+2	Wayne McKinney III makes two point layup	23-18
6:12	+2	Aidan Mahaney makes two point layup	25-18
5:59	+2	Wayne McKinney III makes two point layup	25-20
5:40		Augustas Marciulionis misses two point layup
5:38		Augustas Marciulionis offensive rebound
5:35	+2	Augustas Marciulionis makes two point layup	27-20
5:10		Neel Beniwal misses three point jump shot
5:08		Logan Johnson defensive rebound
4:50		Logan Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Jase Townsend steals)
4:41		Jase Townsend misses three point jump shot
4:39		Aidan Mahaney defensive rebound
4:22	+3	Augustas Marciulionis makes three point jump shot	30-20
4:01		Jase Townsend misses two point jump shot
3:59		Logan Johnson defensive rebound
3:51	+3	Augustas Marciulionis makes three point jump shot (Mitchell Saxen assists)	33-20
3:46		Toreros 30 second timeout
3:46		TV timeout
3:19		Logan Johnson blocks Deuce Turner's three point jump shot
3:17		Mitchell Saxen defensive rebound
3:05	+2	Mitchell Saxen makes two point layup	35-20
2:49		Nic Lynch misses three point jump shot
2:47		Logan Johnson defensive rebound
2:31		Mitchell Saxen misses two point hook shot
2:29		Deven Dahlke defensive rebound
2:26		Kyle Bowen personal foul (Deven Dahlke draws the foul)
2:12		Gaels kicked ball violation
1:59		Wayne McKinney III misses three point jump shot
1:57		Alex Ducas defensive rebound
1:44		Steven Jamerson II personal foul (Mitchell Saxen draws the foul)
1:44	+1	Mitchell Saxen makes regular free throw 1 of 2	36-20
1:44	+1	Mitchell Saxen makes regular free throw 2 of 2	37-20
1:21		Wayne McKinney III misses two point hook shot
1:19		Mitchell Saxen defensive rebound
1:15		Wayne McKinney III shooting foul (Logan Johnson draws the foul)
1:15	+1	Logan Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	38-20
1:15	+1	Logan Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	39-20
0:55		Neel Beniwal misses three point jump shot
0:53		Logan Johnson defensive rebound
0:34		Aidan Mahaney turnover (double dribble)
0:05		Deuce Turner misses three point jump shot
0:03		Joshua Jefferson defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
SMC
Gaels
23
USD
Toreros
39

Time		Play	Score
19:39	+2	Steven Jamerson II makes two point dunk (Jase Townsend assists)	39-22
19:24		Alex Ducas misses three point jump shot
19:22		Steven Jamerson II defensive rebound
19:04		Jase Townsend misses three point jump shot
19:02		Mitchell Saxen defensive rebound
18:49		Logan Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Steven Jamerson II steals)
18:25		Wayne McKinney III misses two point jump shot
18:23		Kyle Bowen defensive rebound
18:08		Aidan Mahaney misses three point jump shot
18:06		Toreros defensive rebound
17:46	+3	Nic Lynch makes three point jump shot (Jase Townsend assists)	39-25
17:24	+2	Kyle Bowen makes two point jump shot (Aidan Mahaney assists)	41-25
17:01	+3	Deuce Turner makes three point jump shot	41-28
16:43		Mitchell Saxen turnover (bad pass) (Wayne McKinney III steals)
16:34		Deuce Turner misses three point jump shot
16:32		Mitchell Saxen defensive rebound
16:25	+2	Kyle Bowen makes two point floating jump shot (Mitchell Saxen assists)	43-28
16:10		Jase Townsend misses two point layup
16:08		Steven Jamerson II offensive rebound
16:04	+2	Steven Jamerson II makes two point tip layup	43-30
15:59	+3	Alex Ducas makes three point jump shot (Aidan Mahaney assists)	46-30
15:57		Gaels 30 second timeout
15:57		TV timeout
15:49		Jase Townsend turnover (bad pass) (Kyle Bowen steals)
15:34	+3	Aidan Mahaney makes three point jump shot (Kyle Bowen assists)	49-30
15:20		Logan Johnson shooting foul (Jase Townsend draws the foul)
15:20		TV timeout
15:20		Jase Townsend misses regular free throw 1 of 2
15:20	+1	Jase Townsend makes regular free throw 2 of 2	49-31
15:04	+2	Mitchell Saxen makes two point driving hook shot	51-31
14:34		Deven Dahlke misses three point jump shot
14:32		Aidan Mahaney defensive rebound
14:29		Jeremiah Nyarko personal foul (Logan Johnson draws the foul)
14:21		Kyle Bowen misses two point jump shot
14:19		Aidan Mahaney offensive rebound
14:13	+3	Aidan Mahaney makes three point jump shot (Logan Johnson assists)	54-31
13:51	+2	Jase Townsend makes two point pullup jump shot	54-33
13:34		Kyle Bowen misses two point floating jump shot
13:32		Jeremiah Nyarko defensive rebound
13:23	+2	Nic Lynch makes two point layup (Jase Townsend assists)	54-35
13:11		Aidan Mahaney misses two point jump shot
13:09		Mitchell Saxen offensive rebound
12:57		Alex Ducas misses three point jump shot
12:55		Mitchell Saxen offensive rebound
12:42	+2	Alex Ducas makes two point pullup jump shot (Kyle Bowen assists)	56-35
12:10		Toreros turnover (shot clock violation)
11:58	+2	Joshua Jefferson makes two point jump shot (Alex Ducas assists)	58-35
11:31		Steven Jamerson II turnover (lost ball)
11:31		TV timeout
11:04		Alex Ducas misses three point jump shot
11:02		Jase Townsend defensive rebound
10:57	+3	Neel Beniwal makes three point jump shot (Wayne McKinney III assists)	58-38
10:54		Joshua Jefferson turnover (bad pass)
10:40		Jase Townsend misses two point layup
10:38		Steven Jamerson II offensive rebound
10:31	+2	Steven Jamerson II makes two point tip layup	58-40
10:25	+2	Mitchell Saxen makes two point layup (Alex Ducas assists)	60-40
10:17		Augustas Marciulionis personal foul
10:02		Augustas Marciulionis personal foul (Wayne McKinney III draws the foul)
9:40		Jase Townsend misses three point jump shot
9:39		Neel Beniwal offensive rebound
9:38		Mitchell Saxen shooting foul (Nic Lynch draws the foul)
9:38		Nic Lynch misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:38	+1	Nic Lynch makes regular free throw 2 of 2	60-41
9:10		Joshua Jefferson misses three point jump shot
9:08		Wayne McKinney III defensive rebound
9:02		Wayne McKinney III misses two point layup
9:00		Joshua Jefferson defensive rebound
8:56		Jump ball. (Gaels gains possession)
8:34		Aidan Mahaney misses two point layup
8:32		Nic Lynch defensive rebound
8:15	+3	Nic Lynch makes three point jump shot (Wayne McKinney III assists)	60-44
7:52		Augustas Marciulionis misses three point jump shot
7:50		Jase Townsend defensive rebound
7:30	+2	Nic Lynch makes two point layup (Wayne McKinney III assists)	60-46
7:05		Nic Lynch shooting foul (Mitchell Saxen draws the foul)
7:05		TV timeout
7:05	+1	Mitchell Saxen makes regular free throw 1 of 2	61-46
7:05	+1	Mitchell Saxen makes regular free throw 2 of 2	62-46
6:56		Mitchell Saxen shooting foul (Neel Beniwal draws the foul)
6:56	+1	Neel Beniwal makes regular free throw 1 of 2	62-47
6:56	+1	Neel Beniwal makes regular free throw 2 of 2	62-48
6:39		Kyle Bowen misses two point jump shot
6:37		Neel Beniwal defensive rebound
6:19	+2	Deven Dahlke makes two point layup	62-50
5:44		Gaels turnover (shot clock violation)
5:31		Neel Beniwal misses three point jump shot
5:29		Logan Johnson defensive rebound
5:17		Aidan Mahaney misses three point jump shot
5:15		Deven Dahlke defensive rebound
5:05		Mitchell Saxen blocks Deven Dahlke's two point layup
5:03		Toreros offensive rebound
4:55		Wayne McKinney III misses two point layup
4:53		Mitchell Saxen defensive rebound
4:29		Kyle Bowen misses three point jump shot
4:27		Steven Jamerson II defensive rebound
4:16	+2	Steven Jamerson II makes two point layup (Deven Dahlke assists)	62-52
3:54		Logan Johnson misses two point layup
3:53		Toreros defensive rebound
3:51		TV timeout
3:28	+2	Jase Townsend makes two point fadeaway jump shot	62-54
3:14		Logan Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Wayne McKinney III steals)
2:54		Mitchell Saxen shooting foul (Nic Lynch draws the foul)
2:54	+1	Nic Lynch makes regular free throw 1 of 2	62-55
2:54	+1	Nic Lynch makes regular free throw 2 of 2	62-56
2:34		Logan Johnson misses three point jump shot
2:32		Jase Townsend defensive rebound
2:26		Jase Townsend misses two point jump shot
2:24		Steven Jamerson II offensive rebound
2:18		Nic Lynch misses three point jump shot
2:16		Alex Ducas defensive rebound
1:49		Steven Jamerson II blocks Kyle Bowen's two point layup
1:47		Gaels offensive rebound
1:47		Gaels turnover (shot clock violation)
1:33		Jase Townsend misses two point layup
1:26		Toreros offensive rebound
1:19		Jase Townsend misses two point jump shot
1:17		Logan Johnson defensive rebound
0:49		Alex Ducas misses three point jump shot
0:47		Kyle Bowen offensive rebound
0:45		Gaels 30 second timeout
0:44		Neel Beniwal personal foul (Kyle Bowen draws the foul)
0:42		Wayne McKinney III personal foul
0:38		Logan Johnson turnover (traveling)
0:32	+2	Wayne McKinney III makes two point layup	62-58
0:25		Wayne McKinney III personal foul (Aidan Mahaney draws the foul)
0:14		Augustas Marciulionis turnover (lost ball)
0:14		Toreros 30 second timeout
0:04		Aidan Mahaney shooting foul (Wayne McKinney III draws the foul)
0:04		Wayne McKinney III misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:04	+1	Wayne McKinney III makes regular free throw 2 of 2	62-59
0:04		Toreros 30 second timeout
0:03		Steven Jamerson II personal foul (Alex Ducas draws the foul)
0:02		Neel Beniwal personal foul (Aidan Mahaney draws the foul)
0:02		Toreros 30 second timeout
0:02		Aidan Mahaney misses regular free throw 1 of 1
0:02		Neel Beniwal defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Neel Beniwal defensive rebound