GAME NOTES: The Gaels of Saint Mary's put their unblemished record on the line Saturday night as they host the Boise State Broncos in a non-conference bout at McKeon Pavilion.

The Gaels, who do not play their first road game of the season until next weekend at Creighton, have won five straight contests, the most recent of which came against Cal Poly last weekend by a score of 82-56.

Meanwhile, the Broncos have lost two of their last three contests after winning three straight coming out of the gate. The latest outcome was a 60-54 defeat at the hands of NC State on the road back on Nov. 28.

In a series that dates back to 1979, the Broncos own a 7-5 advantage over SMC, although the Gaels won the most recent matchup last season by a score of 82-74 in Idaho.

Against NC State, the Broncos dug themselves into a hole by shooting only 27.6 percent from the floor in the first half, including 2-of-15 behind the 3-point line. While the numbers improved after the break, 41.4 percent from the field and 6-of-13 on the perimeter, the game was still out of reach for the visitors to PNC Arena.

Only one starter scored in double figures for Boise State as Anthony Drmic dropped in 10 points, as he converted 3-of-12 from the floor and a mere 2-of-9 beyond the arc. Off the bench, James Webb III was a perfect 5-of-5 shooting (2-of-2 on the outside) as he tallied a team-best 12 points in just 14 minutes of action.

Drmic, who is averaging close to 36 minutes per outing, paces BSU with 15.5 ppg and is also first on the glass with 5.2 rpg. Derrick Marks is listed second on the scoring chart with 14.0 ppg and is first with 20 assists, while Mikey Thompson checks in with 10.8 ppg as a part-time starter for a program that has scored the same number of points (424) through six games as the competition.

After barely getting by UC Irvine on Nov. 23 by just three points, the Gaels dialed up the offense last weekend versus Cal Poly and cruised to a 26-point thrashing at home in McKeon Pavilion. SMC made good on an impressive 15-of-29 behind the 3-point line as both Desmond Simmons and Kerry Carter knocked down four triples, finishing with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Oddly enough, the top scorer for the Gaels didn't bother with even attempting a shot on the outside as Brad Waldow tallied 22 points and 13 rebounds. Coming close to posting a double-double of his own was Emmett Naar who, despite shooting only 3-of-11 from the floor, tallied 10 points and issued eight of the unit's 20 assists.

Waldow, the leading scorer in each of the last three games for the Gaels, is responsible for 21.6 ppg as he shoots better from the floor (.657) than he is at the free-throw line (.552). It is not uncommon for a big man to struggle at the charity stripe, but at least he is making up for it with 9.8 rpg to lead the group in that department as well. Carter (16.0 ppg) is also active on the glass with 7.4 rpg, helping to give SMC a massive 12.4 rpg advantage over the competition.

While the Broncos are a step up in competition for Saint Mary's, the hosts should still have the inside track on a potential victory considering the Gaels are well rested and haven't had to travel.