MORAGA, Calif. (Interstat) — In a commanding display of offensive efficiency and defensive presence, the Saint Mary’s Gaels remained undefeated Friday night, overpowering the Chattanooga Mocs 87 to 66 in a non-conference men’s NCAA Division I basketball game at a raucous McKeon Pavilion.

The Gaels, improving to 2 wins and 0 losses, lived up to their billing as heavy favorites, entering the contest with an 88.7 percent probability to win according to the Interstat ELO system. They did so by executing a near-flawless game plan, particularly in a dominant first half that saw them build a lead the Mocs could never seriously challenge.

Saint Mary’s set the tone early, racing out to a 48 to 33 halftime advantage. The Gaels’ offensive machine was firing on all cylinders, shooting a blistering 57.8 percent from the floor in the opening period while effectively moving the ball and capitalizing on their opportunities at the free-throw line. Chattanooga, falling to 1 win and 1 loss on the young season, struggled to find any consistent rhythm against the Gaels’ disciplined defense, matching their first-half output with another 33 points after the break but never mounting a significant comeback as Saint Mary’s added 39 more to their total.

The story of the game was told not just on the scoreboard but in the stark contrast of offensive execution. The Gaels were a model of efficiency, scoring 87 points on just 65 possessions for a staggering offensive rating of 134.3. The Mocs, by comparison, managed 66 points from 70 possessions, resulting in a far less effective offensive rating of 94.3. This disparity was rooted in Saint Mary’s remarkable shooting performance and their ability to control the game without relying on a high volume of shots.

Saint Mary’s finished the night shooting 26 of 45 from the field, good for 57.8 percent, and were equally potent from beyond the arc, connecting on 8 of 16 three-point attempts. Their most impressive statistic, however, came at the charity stripe, where they were nearly perfect, converting 27 of 29 free throws. This sharpshooting performance overshadowed a respectable effort from Chattanooga, which shot 42.3 percent on 22 of 52 from the floor and 7 of 21 from three-point range. The Mocs were solid from the free-throw line, making 15 of 19, but were simply outgunned by the Gaels’ precision.

The individual performances underscored the team efforts. Saint Mary’s was led by a spectacular outing from sophomore guard Mikey Lewis. The Oakland native poured in a game-high 28 points in just 32 minutes of action, adding 4 rebounds, 5 assists and a block to his stat line. His backcourt mate, Joshua Dent of Wollongong, Australia, orchestrated the offense with a team-high 6 assists.

The frontcourt provided a formidable complement to the guard play. Forward Paulius Murauskas, a 6-foot-8 sophomore from Kaunas, Lithuania, was a force inside and out, contributing 22 points and a team-high 8 rebounds while also dishing out 5 assists. Anchoring the paint was 7-foot-1 center Andrew McKeever of Livermore, California. The towering big man logged 35 minutes, scoring 16 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, and recording a block, his presence altering countless Mocs attempts near the rim. Dillan Shaw provided valuable energy off the bench, chipping in 7 points and 4 rebounds in 16 minutes.

For Chattanooga, the effort was led by a balanced scoring attack but a lack of a singular dominant performance to counter the Gaels’ stars. Teddy Washington, a guard from Blytheville, Arkansas, led the Mocs with 13 points. Jordan Frison, a 6-foot guard from Memphis, Tennessee, facilitated the offense with a team-high 6 assists to go with his 10 points. Billy Smith of Indianapolis added 11 points, but the Mocs’ offense often stalled against the stout Saint Mary’s defense.

The rebounding battle was relatively even, but the Gaels secured a key advantage on the offensive glass, pulling down 6 offensive rebounds to Chattanooga’s 2, creating valuable second-chance opportunities. Both teams were active defensively, with Chattanooga recording 6 steals and Saint Mary’s notching 5 steals and 4 blocks. Turnovers were nearly even, with the Mocs committing 11 and the Gaels giving the ball away 12 times, but Saint Mary’s made their possessions count for far more.

The announced attendance of 3,381 at McKeon Pavilion witnessed a Saint Mary’s team that has looked impressive in its first two outings, having also defeated Saint Thomas (Minn.) 84 to 58 on Monday. Chattanooga, which opened its season with a resounding 92 to 39 victory over Union Commonwealth, now faces a quick turnaround, traveling to face UNLV on Saturday.

Looking ahead, the Gaels will host Ohio on Tuesday before a matchup with Arkansas State the following Wednesday. Their schedule will later feature a trip to The Bahamas to face Wichita State and a neutral-site game against Boise State in Idaho Falls. Chattanooga’s upcoming slate includes road games at Florida Gulf Coast and South Carolina State before returning home for a stretch that includes a high-profile matchup against Auburn in Atlanta.

The total combined score of 153 points fell well under the pre-game over/under line of 143.5, a testament to the Gaels’ defensive efforts in holding the Mocs’ offense in check throughout the contest. For Saint Mary’s, the victory serves as a strong early-season statement, while Chattanooga will look to regroup and refine its execution as it continues a challenging non-conference road trip.