GAME NOTES: The Saint Mary's Gaels and the New Mexico State Aggies are pulling the overnight shift in the annual Tip-Off Marathon, as the teams meet up at McKeon Pavilion early Tuesday morning.

NMSU's 2014-15 campaign started off with the unenviable task of traveling to play No. 11 Wichita State, and although it put together a good fight, it ultimately fell on the wrong end of a 71-54 final.

Saint Mary's didn't exactly challenge itself in its first game of the season, facing off against Division II Cal State Los Angeles, but it did get off on the right foot with a 77-67 victory.

The Gaels holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series with NMSU, most recently winning in December of 2010, 73-53.

The Aggies trailed Wichita State by 17 at the half and were down by 20 or more for the majority of the second half in their opener, but a late flurry made the final score closer than expected. NMSU did not have much success on the offensive end of the floor, as it made good on only 40 percent of its field goal tries while finishing with more turnovers (20) than field goals (16). It benefitted from an active night at the foul line, but it only made 18-of-31 tries (.581). Tshilidzi Nephawe was the only played in double figures with 14 points while adding six rebounds, two steals and a block. Remi Barry netted nine points and Ian Baker and Pascal Siakam added seven points apiece.

The Gaels were very sluggish out of the gate in their first game, as they shot a mere 35.7 percent from the field in the first half and trailed at intermission, 34-31. Luckily they righted the ship in the second stanza, improving to 54.2 percent from the floor over the final 20 minutes to capture the 10-point victory. Despite committing a game-high 18 turnovers and a shooting a lackluster 17-of-32 from the foul line (.531), Saint Mary's was able to get over the hump thanks to a 14-of-34 showing from beyond the arc (.412). Seven of those 3-pointers came courtesy of Kerry Carter, who scored 25 points to go with 12 rebounds. Brad Waldow (16 points, 10 rebounds) also logged a double-double, Emmett Naar and Aaron Bright netted 12 and 10 points, respectively, and Desmond Simmons collected 11 rebounds.

If the opener is any indication, Saint Mary's has a lot of kinks to iron out. At home against an underwhelming NMSU squad, it should be able to give the rowdy early-morning crowd something to cheer about.