MONMOUTH, OR — The Saint Martin's Men's Basketball (16-2, 5-0 GNAC) team headed to Western Oregon for a road GNAC contest last Saturday, riding the momentum of an impressive seven-game winning streak.

The game tipped off with a bang as Marcel Stevens and Myles Samuels drained back-to-back three-pointers, asserting their dominance early. The Saints' quick start had them leading 10-5, but the Wolves were not ready to roll over. Fueled by sharp shooting from beyond the arc, Western Oregon clawed back and found their rhythm. The Wolves surged ahead with a few well-executed plays, bringing the score to 23-14. Despite their opponents' hot streak, the Saints ramped up their defensive intensity, forcing rushed shots and turnovers. By halftime, however, the Wolves still held a slim advantage at 45-38.

The second half brought even more intensity as the Saints turned up the heat. With their relentless pressure and high-energy play, they fought tooth and nail to close the gap. Stevens would sink another clutch three-pointer to tie the game at 48-48, as the game became a back-and-forth battle. As the clock ticked down, every possession became critical. With just 1:52 remaining, the Wolves clung to a narrow 74-73 lead. That is when senior Jaden Nielsen-Skinner took matters into his own hands. Skinny would drive the ball in transition and nail a pull-up jumper to put the Saints ahead. The defense came up big in the next possession, and Samuels delivered the dagger with a smooth mid-range shot, followed by two clutch free throws to seal the deal.

The final score would be 79-74 in favor of the Saints in a hard-fought conference victory. Immanuel Oludele was a powerhouse on the boards, recording an impressive double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Samuels led all scorers with 21 points, while Nielsen-Skinner contributed 11 points and five crucial steals. This thrilling win extended the Saints' win streak to eight games and bumped them up to #17 in the NABC Poll.

Associate Head Coach Tyler Velasquez was impressed with the team's attitude throughout the game, citing their toughness as a major contributor in getting the win:

"Every game in the GNAC is a tough game. Our guys showed a tremendous amount of toughness tonight and battled when things weren't going our way. That toughness showed up on the offensive glass where Immanuel Oludele and Diego Trejo-Delgado led us to the comeback win."

The Saints will be back in action this Thursday, January 16th up in Bellingham as they take on the Western Washington Vikings. You can get tickets here.