MORAGA, Calif. — In a decisive matchup, Paulius Murauskas led the Gaels with an impressive 30-point performance, guiding Saint Mary’s to a 77-56 victory over Washington State on Saturday evening.

Murauskas also contributed with 10 rebounds, solidifying his presence on the court for the Gaels, who improved to a record of 23 wins and 4 losses, with a conference record of 13-1 in the West Coast Conference. Alongside him, Augustas Marciulionis delivered a notable performance with 16 points, complemented by seven assists and four steals. Jordan Ross added to the scoring with 12 points, hitting 4 of 10 shots from the floor, which included a 1 for 5 performance from beyond the arc, and successfully converting all three of his free-throw attempts.

For the Cougars, LeJuan Watts emerged as the team’s leading scorer with 17 points, also tallying four assists. Isaiah Watts made his mark with 12 points, six rebounds, and two blocked shots. Ethan Price contributed an additional 11 points to the scoreboard.

The game turned in favor of Saint Mary’s when they took the lead with just 1:31 remaining in the first half, eventually heading into halftime with a narrow 38-34 lead. Murauskas stood out by scoring 20 points in the first half alone, helping to set the pace for the second half. The Gaels then expanded their advantage significantly to 54-36, thanks to a dominant 16-2 scoring run. Marciulionis was key during the second half as he scored a team-high 12 points, helping Saint Mary’s secure the win.

Looking ahead, both teams are set to return to action on Wednesday. Saint Mary’s will welcome Portland, while Washington State will face Gonzaga at home.