SANTA CLARA, Calif. — In a compelling matchup on Wednesday night, the Saint Mary’s Gaels triumphed over the Santa Clara Broncos with a score of 67-54, aided significantly by Mitchell Saxen’s contributions of 12 points and five rebounds. This win marked a significant milestone for the Gaels, who have now improved their record to 19-3 overall and maintained an unblemished 9-0 in the West Coast Conference. Luke Barrett also played a key role for Saint Mary’s, scoring 10 points and making two of his seven attempts from three-point territory. Additionally, Paulius Murauskas added nine points to the tally, despite shooting 4 for 13 overall.

The Broncos, holding a record of 14-9 and 6-4 in conference play, were led by Carlos Stewart, who showcased his scoring ability by netting 24 points in the contest. Christoph Tilly supported with a valuable 11 points and contributed two steals, while Brenton Knapper chipped in with six points.

Saint Mary’s gained momentum as the first half wound down, seizing the lead with just under two minutes on the clock and maintaining it for the remainder of the game. The Gaels exhibited dominance in the second half with a staggering 26-0 run, creating a significant 28-point advantage at one stage. Saxen emerged as a standout for Saint Mary’s during the final half, where he scored a team-high nine points, propelling his team to an 11-point lead over Santa Clara in that period.

Looking ahead, both teams have games scheduled for Saturday, with the Gaels set to host Gonzaga, while the Broncos will face Pacific in a home game.