MORAGA, Calif. -- Daniel Kickert scored 16 points, including
seven points in a key second-half sequence, to lead Saint Mary's to
a 75-62 victory over Murray State in the championship game of the
Shamrock Office Solutions Classic on Wednesday night.
Paul Marigney added 13 points and eight rebounds for Saint
Mary's (11-4), which won its fifth straight game for its longest
winning streak since an 11 gamer at the end of the 1996-97 season.
Kickert, named the tournament MVP, hit a 3-pointer which put
Saint Mary's ahead 9-6, and the Gaels never trailed after that.
After Murray St. scored two quick baskets to open the second
half to cut Saint Mary's lead to six, Kickert scored from the post
and followed a free throw by Darnell Hopkins with a three-point
play to put the Gaels ahead by 10.
Charles Johnson scored for Murray St. (5-4) before E.J. Rowland
drove for a basket and Jason Walberg scored a 3-pointer after
making a steal. Kickert scored after a three-quarters court-length
pass from Rowland as Saint Mary's built a double-digit lead it
never relinquished.
Saint Mary's, which committed 12 turnovers in the first half,
had only six in the second half when it hit 58.3 percent from the
floor (14-for-24). Saint Mary's shot 50 percent for the game
(24-for-48).
Hopkins led all scorers with 21 points, and Issian Redding added
11 with eight rebounds for Murray State.
Brett Collins and Rowland each added 10 for Saint Mary's.
Rowland also had six assists.
UC Davis beat Radford 67-63 earlier Wednesday in the consolation
game.