GAME NOTES: Midway through a six-game homestand, the Saint Mary's Gaels will once again play the role of host as they take on the UC Irvine Anteaters in a non-conference clash at McKeon Pavilion.

UC Irvine started the season off at 2-0, but dropped its most recent decision, 71-54, to powerhouse Arizona. The Anteaters are playing this game as the second of a four-game road trip that lasts into December.

Saint Mary's is 3-0 to start the new campaign, with wins over Cal State L.A., New Mexico State and Denver. The Gaels easily took down the Pioneers in their most recent outing, 78-62.

This contest will mark the ninth time in history that these two teams will meet on the floor. The Anteaters hold the all-time advantage, 5-3.

Arizona is one of the top teams in the country, and currently ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25. But UC Irvine played the Wildcats extremely tough in the team's last outing, and even held a 29-26 advantage at halftime. However, Arizona pulled away in the second half for the win thanks to a 45-point effort in the frame. Luke Nelson and Travis Souza each scored 11 points to lead the Anteaters, while Nelson dished out a team-best six assists. UC Irvine shot 37 percent from the floor, and made just 5-of-15 shots from 3-point distance. The team only made 13 attempts from the free-throw line also, hitting nine of them. Defensively, the Anteaters limited Arizona to 39.6 percent shooting from the floor.

Only one player is averaging a scoring total in double figures for the Anteaters this season, and that player is Nelson. His 12.0 ppg mark through three contests is the team high, and his 12 assists is also the best on the squad. UC Irvine hasn't been the greatest team on the glass, averaging 33.0 rpg as a unit, led by Alex Young and Will Davis II's 5.0 rpg averages. Young checks in at second on the team with 9.7 ppg - just shy of averaging in double figures. The Anteaters are still netting 69.7 ppg despite only having one player average double-digit points.

Saint Mary's was able to easily handle Denver in the team's last outing, running to an eight-point lead at halftime and increasing that lead throughout the second half. Brad Waldow poured in a team-best 26 points to lead the Gaels in the contest, adding seven rebounds. Kerry Carter chipped in with 16 points, and Aaron Bright netted 13 in 38 minutes of action. The Gaels connected on a whopping 64.6 percent of their shot attempts in the game, which included a 72 percent shooting effort in the second half. And that takes into account the 3- of-10 shooting performance from 3-point range in the win.

Waldow's scoring outburst against Denver did wonders for his team-leading points per game average. The center, who has started all three contests, leads the team with 19.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. Carter isn't too far off Waldow's blistering pace, though, netting 17.7 ppg with 8.0 rpg. Bright rounds out the Saint Mary's double-digit scorers through three contests with a 14.7 ppg average. The Gaels are scoring 79.3 ppg this season, and are allowing just 66.7 ppg to opponents. The team is also making shots at an incredible 54.1 percent rate.

Both of these teams are powerful on the defensive end, so it will certainly be a challenge for UC Irvine to take on an offense as adept as Saint Mary's. The Anteaters will need more offense from role players like Young, Davis and center Mamadou Ndiaye. At home the Gaels have the advantage, especially with an offense ready to explode on any given night.