Box Score

MORAGA, Calif. - UC Davis provided the toughest test of the season for one of the top mid-major programs in the nation during Friday's non-conference game at McKeon Pavilion in Moraga, Calif., trailed by five at halftime and cut a 13-point deficit down to five in the second half, but Saint Mary's three-point shooting helped it extend its lead as the game progressed, and ultimately defeat UC Davis by an 81-67 score.

The Gaels, who are coming off a recent win against Stanford, improves to 5-0 this season - with every result coming on its home floor. UC Davis, a team that will face its second West Coast Conference opponent in as many games once finals week concludes, will enter its Dec. 15 matchup at San Diego with a 4-3 record.

Josh Fox led a quartet of UC Davis double-digit scorers by finishing with 19 points, two shy of a career high. Lawrence White tied a career high by posting 11 points on 4 of 6 shooting; Nolan Berry ended his evening for the second straight game, with 11; Brynton Lemar hit two of his four shots from three and chipped in 10 points.

"When you are playing a really good team on the road, the margin for error is slim," said UC Davis head coach Jim Les. "There were moments where we did not execute on defense, and they made us pay."

UC Davis held the lead for a majority of the game's first 10 minutes, until three straight Saint Mary's threes gave the Gaels a two-point lead.

As the half progressed, the Aggies remained within striking distance and refused to let Saint Mary's extend its advantage to more than a two-possession cushion.

Throughout the final 8:46 of the first half, Fox scored nine of the Aggies' final 17 points; timely baskets by Darius Graham and Brynton Lemar helped their team answer baskets made by the Gaels in the minutes leading up to the break.

Entering halftime, near identical percentages were posted; both squads shot .400 from three and .750 from the line, but its was the Gaels' .500 field goal percentage, vs. the Aggies' .467 clip, that enabled them to take a slight five-point lead into the break.

Don't let the score mislead you: Were it not for the Gaels scoring 10 of the first 12 points in the second half, and making 12 of its 27 buckets from three - against the eighth-ranked team in the nation from distance - SMC's margin of victory would not have been anywhere near double digits.

UC Davis outscored Saint Mary's in the paint (34-30) and recorded all 14 of the game's fast break points, but was unable to chip away at their opponent's lead late in the second half when it grew from five points to double-digits due to the Gaels ability to score from behind the arc.

When the final horn sounded, the Gaels finished with five more field goals from three compared to the Aggies.

Even though UC Davis committed a season-low eight turnovers, it was outrebounded for the first time this season. However, the Aggies limited SMC's ability to convert on those additional opportunities as the Gaels only scored 12 second-chance points compared to UC Davis' nine.

Led by Jock Landale and Stefan Gonzalez with 15, six Gaels finished with double-digit point totals.

Friday's game was the Aggies' first against Saint Mary's in 24 years, the Aggies last game against the Gaels took place in December, 1991.

Saint Mary's (CA) 81, UC Davis 67

UC Davis (4-3)
Josh Fox 7-11 5-7 19; Lawrence White 4-7 1-2 11; Nolan Berry 4-6 2-4 11; Brynton Lemar 4-9 0-1 10; Siler Schneider 2-7 0-0 6; Darius Graham 3-8 0-0 6; Neal Monson 2-5 0-0 4; Georgi Funtarov 0-1 0-0 0; Michael Onyebalu 0-1 0-0 0; Garrison Goode 0-4 0-0 0; Totals 26-59 8-14 67.

Saint Mary's (CA) (5-0)
Stefan Gonzalez 4-9 4-6 15; Jock Landale 6-7 3-3 15; Joe Rahon 5-11 0-0 12; Calvin Hermanson 4-8 0-0 11; Kyle Clark 3-5 1-2 10; Emmett Naar 3-5 3-4 10; Dane Pineau 2-3 2-2 6; Franklin Porter 0-0 2-2 2; Evan Fitzner 0-4 0-0 0; Jordan Hunter 0-0 0-2 0; Jack Biebel 0-0 0-2 0; Totals 27-52 15-23 81.

UC Davis…………..... 33 34 - 67
Saint Mary's (CA)… 38 43 - 81

3 point goals -- UC Davis 7-18 (Brynton Lemar 2-3; Lawrence White 2-4; Siler Schneider 2-4; Nolan Berry 1-2; Darius Graham 0-3; Georgi Funtarov 0-1; Michael Onyebalu 0-1;), Saint Mary's (CA) 12-29 (Calvin Hermanson 3-6; Kyle Clark 3-5; Stefan Gonzalez 3-8; Joe Rahon 2-5; Emmett Naar 1-2; Evan Fitzner 0-3;). Fouled out -- UC Davis - None, Saint Mary's (CA) - None. Rebounds -- UC Davis 27 (Lawrence White 5), Saint Mary's (CA) 41 (Stefan Gonzalez 8). Assists -- UC Davis 12 (Lawrence White 3), Saint Mary's (CA) 22 (Joe Rahon 8). Total fouls -- UC Davis 23, Saint Mary's (CA) 16. Technical fouls -- UC Davis 0, Saint Mary's (CA) 0. A-2506