No. 19 Saint Mary's is heading back to the West Coast Conference Tournament final after a commanding 74-59 victory over Pepperdine in the semifinals on Monday night. The top-seeded Gaels were led by Augustas Marciulionis and Paulius Murauskas, who each scored 15 points to propel their team to the championship game.
The Gaels' win sets up a highly anticipated matchup in the championship game, which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday night. As the No. 1 seed in the tournament, Saint Mary's is looking to capitalize on their momentum and secure the conference title.
Marciulionis and Murauskas were the driving force behind the Gaels' success, with each player contributing 15 points to the team's total. Their impressive performances were instrumental in helping Saint Mary's build a significant lead and maintain it throughout the game.
Pepperdine, the No. 9 seed in the tournament, put up a valiant effort but ultimately fell short against the top-seeded Gaels. Despite their best efforts, the Waves were unable to overcome the deficit and suffered a 15-point loss.
The Gaels' victory marks a significant milestone in their quest for conference supremacy. With their sights set on the championship title, Saint Mary's is poised to make a deep run in the tournament and potentially secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
As the team prepares to take the court for the championship game, they will be looking to draw on the momentum generated by their semifinal win. With Marciulionis and Murauskas leading the charge, the Gaels are confident in their ability to come out on top and claim the conference title.