BELMONT, Calif – Another team effort on the offensive end of the floor, including 16 3-pointers, along with a lights out defensive pressure, the Saints rolled Notre Dame de Namur, 81-55, to begin the NDNU Thanksgiving Classic.
 
Four Saints scored double-digits, led by BJ Standley's 15 points, while for the second straight game, 11 different Saints scored. SMU shot over 50 percent from the field as a team, while limiting Notre Dame de Namur to only 3-of-17 (17.6 percent) from beyond the arc. The Saints also moved the ball efficiently, assisting on 19 of the team's 29 made field goals, with season-high seven from Luke Chavez.
 
"I thought we took some important steps on the defensive end tonight," said head coach Alex Pribble. "The guys played hard and as a cohesive unit for a long stretch in the second half. Our ability to play consistent defense is going to continue to be an important part of the improvement process for us."
 
Saint Martin's offense started the game slow, scoring only one basket through the first five minutes, and falling behind 8-3. Just two minutes later, Chavez hit another shot outside, and Caden Smith came in to hit a 3-pointer to put SMU on top 11-10. Standley stepped back to hit two more 3-pointers and within four minutes, the Saints went from trailing by five to leading by seven.
 
Standley and Smith continued the assault from deep, both connecting on two more shots. Through the first eight field goals by the Saints, seven came from beyond the arc. Over the next five minutes, more Saints jumped in on the 3-point attack, with EJ Boyce and Rhett Baerlocher each hitting shots, and the Saints' lead grew to 31-19 with 5:15 left. Out of the Saints' 38 points in the first half, 30 came from the 3-pointer, six in the paint, and two at the line, as SMU held a 38-27 lead at the break.
 
Out of halftime, the Saints' offensive focus went down low, in attacking the basket. Jordan Kitchen led the charge scoring six of the first eight points to extend the lead to 46-28. SMU's lead continued to stretch out at 28 after a 3-pointer by Kitchen put the score at 68-40 with 7:20 remaining on the clock.
 
Chandler Redix joined the party with a 3-pointer and a couple of layups by Marky Adams topped out the Saints' lead at 33. Saint Martin's played out the final minutes while getting offensive production out of players like Robert Little and Alexis Angeles. The Argonauts were never able to figure out the Saints' defense and struggled to find any offensive flow in the second half. Saint Martin's coasted to the 81-55 win to open the tournament over the host school.
 
"We didn't do a great job out of the gate tonight, but I though BJ Standley, Luke Chavez, and Caden Smith did a good job of settling us down," Pribble stated. "Our second half defensive effort was anchored by Jordan Kitchen and Chandler Redix. We're going to need big contributions from them again tomorrow."
 
Standley led the way in scoring with 15 points, followed by Smith at 12 points, all on 3-pointers, and Kitchen at 11 and Boyce at 10. Chavez ended with nine points and seven rebounds, while three different Saints led the way in rebounding at five boards.
 
As a squad, the Saints were 29-of-57 (50.9 percent), 16-for-34 (47.1 percent) from deep, and 7-of-11 (63.6 percent) at the line. The Saints collected 31 rebounds, with 19 assists on only eight turnovers. SMU scored 24 points in the paint, 17 off turnovers, and 39 came from their bench.
 
The Saints wrap up the NDNU Thanksgiving Classic with a matchup against Holy Names tomorrow at 5:00 p.m.