Dillon Jones scored a career-high 29 points and added 10 rebounds and Weber State overcame a 16-point, second-half deficit to post a 61-57 upset of No. 23 Saint Mary’s on Sunday night at Moraga, Calif.
Blaise Threatt had nine points and four steals for the Wildcats (2-0), who outscored the Gaels 30-10 over the final 13:18 to notch the stunning upset.
Aidan Mahaney and Harry Wessels scored 11 points apiece and Alex Ducas had 10 points for Saint Mary’s (2-1).
A layup by Threatt gave Weber State a 58-53 lead with 2:21 left.
Mitchell Saxen hit two free throws for the Gaels with 1:58 left before Weber State’s Alex Tew slammed home a putback dunk with 1:23 remaining.
Saxen scored on a putback as Saint Mary’s moved within 60-57 with 1:03 left.
The Wildcats were called for a shot-clock violation with 11 seconds left. But Mahaney missed a 3-pointer with just over three seconds left and Alex Ducas missed the follow.
Threatt split two free throws with 1.5 seconds left as Weber State defeated Saint Mary’s for the first time in five meetings.
Weber State shot 40.4 percent from the field, including 6 of 21 from 3-point range.
The Gaels connected on 40 percent of their shots from the field and were a lowly 5 of 27 (18.5 percent) from beyond the arc. Saint Mary’s held a 41-26 rebounding edge.
Saint Mary’s led by 16 points before Weber State got back into the game with an 18-2 burst to knot the score at 49.
Threatt began the surge with consecutive baskets. After Mahaney made a hoop for the Gaels with 12:06 remaining, Weber State rattled off 14 straight points.
Dyson Koehler made a 3-pointer, Jones converted a layup and Tew slammed home consecutive dunks. Steven Verplancken buried a straightaway 3-pointer to pull Weber State within 49-47 with 6:32 left.
After a Saint Mary’s timeout, the Wildcats completed the run with Threatt’s layup to tie it with 5:44 left.
Wessels scored 26 seconds later to put the Gaels back in front.
But Jones answered with two baskets as Weber State led for the first time all game at 53-51 with 4:14 left.
After Augustas Marciulionis drove for a layup to tie it, Jones sank a trey to put the Wildcats ahead by three with 3:35 to play.
Mahaney and Wessels each scored nine first-half points as Saint Mary’s held a 37-26 lead. The Gaels shot 55.6 percent from the field.
Jones had 16 points in the half for the Wildcats, who shot 29.6 percent from the floor.
–Field Level Media