Nov. 23, 2016
MORAGA, Calif. (AP) Jock Landale scored 24 points and didn't miss a shot until there was 6:49 remaining, and No. 15 Saint Mary's beat Bay Area neighbor San Jose State 81-64 on Tuesday night.
Landale is shooting 75 percent (36 of 48) over his first four games for the Gaels (4-0), who followed up a 61-57 victory Saturday at Dayton with another impressive win. He went 9 for 10 and also had seven rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots.
Emmett Naar added 16 points for Saint Mary's.
Landale has emerged as a force in the low post as senior starting forward Dane Pineau deals with lower back issues that have limited him so far this season. With coach Randy Bennett remaining cautious, Pineau didn't play at all for the first time in four games.
Joe Rahon contributed eight points, seven assists, five rebounds and three blocks for Saint Mary's, which holds its highest ranking in the AP poll since it also was 15th in 1959. The program is ranked in the preseason poll for the first time.
Ryan Welage scored 17 points and Jaycee Hillsman had 16 for San Jose State (1-3), which hung tough with the West Coast Conference favorite for most of the game but couldn't avoid a third straight defeat.
San Jose State's Brandon Clarke was whistled for his third foul with 14:01 left and it turned into a costly four-point swing that produced a 58-51 Saint Mary's lead after he picked up a technical for arguing the initial call.
The Gaels used that play to start an 18-2 run to build a 72-53 lead.
Saint Mary's shot 60.7 percent in the first half but led only 43-40 at the break as San Jose State took advantage of 10 Saint Mary's fouls and converted 10 of 11 free throws.
Saint Mary's won its fifth straight against San Jose State to match its longest unbeaten run in the series.
BIG PICTURE
San Jose State: The Spartans' last victory against a Top 25 team was 60-59 in overtime against No. 19 Alabama on Dec. 27, 1996. ... They haven't beaten Saint Mary's since Nov. 26, 2000, in Moraga, and this was the first matchup since Nov. 20, 2009.
Saint Mary's: The Gaels have outscored opponents 274-207 in their first three home games at McKeon Pavilion. ... Saint Mary's is 115-32 against non-conference opponents over the past 10 years. ... Former Gaels star Stephen Holt was in attendance and recognized on the court during an early timeout.
UP NEXT
San Jose State: At Washington State on Sunday in the middle game of a three-game road trip that includes another Palouse matchup eight miles away at Idaho two days later.
Saint Mary's: Takes on the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Sunday in Las Vegas before going to Stanford next Wednesday.