MORAGA, Calif. — In a sloppy offensive performance, No. 20 Saint Mary’s (22-2, 12-1 WCC) relied on stellar defense to snatch the 51-41 win over the Pilots of Portland at McKeon Pavilion on Thursday night.
In their previous matchup, the Gaels controlled the game with ease, winning by a 41-point margin (74-31). Thursday’s major difference: no Alec Wintering, the Pilots leading scorer and a West Coast Conference force. Two days after they last faced off, Wintering went down with a season ending torn ACL.
“Part of it was we didn’t make shots and part of it was their defense,” said senior guard Joe Rahon.