MORAGA, Calif. (Interstat) — A competitive first half gave way to a dominant second-half display by Saint Mary’s, as the Gaels overpowered the Seattle Redhawks 93-76 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Sunday at a sold-out McKeon Pavilion.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 3,410, was effectively decided by a devastating 20-4 run by Saint Mary’s that spanned the final minutes of the first half and the opening minutes of the second. That surge transformed a narrow 36-34 Gael lead into a commanding 56-38 advantage, a margin Seattle never seriously threatened.

The catalyst for the decisive run was a combination of stifling defense and relentless offensive rebounding by the Gaels. Saint Mary’s finished with a staggering 16 offensive rebounds, leading to a 50-36 advantage in points in the paint and a 145.3 offensive rating on just 64 possessions. Seattle, by contrast, managed only three offensive boards and was held to a 109.6 offensive rating.

Saint Mary’s forward Paulius Murauskas, a 6-foot-8 junior from Kaunas, Lithuania, delivered a masterful performance, scoring a game-high 30 points on efficient 11-of-17 shooting from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. He added four assists and was a constant force on the glass, particularly on the offensive end, helping the Gaels extend possessions and demoralize the Redhawks’ defense.

Seattle, which fell to 12-5, was led by Jun Seok Yeo’s 24 points. The 6-foot-8 forward from Seoul, South Korea, shot 9-of-17 from the field, including 4-of-8 from three-point range. Will Heimbrodt, a 6-foot-7 senior from San Anselmo, California, added 19 points, five blocks and three assists for the Redhawks.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair featuring 10 lead changes. Seattle’s outside shooting kept them in it, as they connected on 7-of-14 three-point attempts before halftime. A three-pointer by Maleek Arington with 1:24 left in the period brought Seattle within two points at 34-32. However, the Gaels closed the half on a 5-0 spurt, capped by a Dillan Shaw three-pointer at the buzzer, to take a 39-34 lead into the break.

The momentum carried into the second half. Saint Mary’s opened with a 17-4 burst over the first 4:38, with Murauskas scoring seven points during the stretch. The Gael defense tightened, forcing Seattle into tougher shots and capitalizing on every missed opportunity with second-chance points. Seattle’s offensive rhythm, so fluid in the first half, disappeared as they shot just 32 percent from the field after halftime.

Shaw, a 6-foot-7 guard from Northridge, California, was instrumental for Saint Mary’s, finishing with 20 points and six assists. His backcourt mate, Joshua Dent of Wollongong, Australia, directed the offense with nine assists. The Gaels also got a major contribution from 7-foot-1 center Harry Wessels of Boddington, Australia, who scored 15 points in just 21 minutes off the bench.

Saint Mary’s, which improved to 15-2, showcased its depth and physicality, outscoring Seattle 54-32 in the second half. The Gaels shot 53.8 percent from the field for the game and made 16 of 19 free throws. Seattle finished at 46.9 percent shooting but was hampered by its inability to secure defensive rebounds and generate easy baskets, managing only four total assists.

The victory extends Saint Mary’s home winning streak and solidifies its strong start to the season. Seattle, coming off a tough overtime loss at Gonzaga two days prior, will look to regroup as it continues a challenging stretch of its schedule. The Redhawks travel to face Oregon State on Thursday. Saint Mary’s next hosts Washington State on Saturday.