MORAGA, Calif. (Interstat) — A methodical and punishing offensive performance from Paulius Murauskas and Joshua Dent propelled Saint Mary’s to a decisive 88-75 victory over Florida Atlantic in a nonconference men’s basketball game Friday night at a sold-out McKeon Pavilion.

The Gaels, improving to 10-2, used a 12-2 run late in the first half to establish a lead they would never relinquish, consistently answering any push from the Owls with efficient scoring, primarily at the free-throw line. Saint Mary’s attempted 33 free throws, making 26, while Florida Atlantic went 16 for 25 from the stripe.

Murauskas, a 6-foot-8 forward from Kaunas, Lithuania, was the focal point, scoring 21 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and a perfect 11-for-11 performance at the free-throw line. He added three assists and a block in 36 minutes. Dent, a 6-3 guard from Wollongong, Australia, orchestrated the offense with a game-high 24 points and six assists, frequently breaking down the Florida Atlantic defense to create opportunities for himself and others.

The most important stretch of the game came with Saint Mary’s holding a narrow 22-20 lead late in the first half. Over the final 4 minutes, 25 seconds before halftime, the Gaels outscored the Owls 16-10. The run was capped by a Mikey Lewis three-pointer with 31 seconds left, giving Saint Mary’s a 38-30 cushion at the break. This surge established the tempo and control the Gaels maintained throughout the second half, as Florida Atlantic never got the deficit below six points after intermission.

Florida Atlantic (8-4) was led by Josiah Parker’s 17 points, while Maxim Logue came off the bench to add 15 points and eight rebounds. The Owls struggled with ball security, committing 15 turnovers that led to 18 points for Saint Mary’s. Despite shooting a slightly better percentage from the floor (43.3% to 45.2%), the Owls were hampered by their inability to get consistent stops and their deficit at the foul line.

Saint Mary’s showcased its interior strength beyond its star guards. Center Andrew McKeever, a 7-1 freshman from nearby Livermore, provided a significant boost with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting, while fellow 7-footer Harry Wessels added nine points. The Gaels’ size and physicality resulted in a 44-30 advantage in points in the paint.

Florida Atlantic’s Devin Williams finished with 13 points and three assists, and Isaiah Elohim added 15 points, but the Owls’ offense often stalled against a disciplined Saint Mary’s defense. The Gaels recorded seven steals and forced the 15 turnovers, consistently disrupting Florida Atlantic’s rhythm.

The game drew a capacity crowd of 3,129 to McKeon Pavilion. Saint Mary’s will look to build on the win when it hosts Northern Iowa on Monday. Florida Atlantic, which saw a three-game winning streak snapped, does not play again until hosting Texas-San Antonio on New Year’s Eve.