After a fantastic start in non-conference play, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team begins West Coast Conference action on Thursday when Saint Mary's comes to the Hilltop.  It will be the 181^st time these two teams meet and it will be televised live on ESPN2 with Dave Feldman and Caron Butler on the call.  As always, fans can tune their radio dial to 1550-AM The GAME – the official home of USF Dons Basketball, to hear Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli call the action courtside. Thursday night's contest against the Gaels will be the Dons Gold Rush fans are encouraged to wear gold.   
















GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Jan. 03, 2019 – 6:00 p.m. PST
Opponent: Saint Mary's Gaels (9-6, 0-0 WCC)
Site: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
Video: ESPN2
Talent: Dave Feldman (play-by-play) and Caron Butler (analyst)
Radio:  1550-AM The GAME
Talent: Pat Olson (play-by-play) and Jim Brovelli (analyst)
Live Stats: USFDons.com
Game Notes: USF vs. SMC
 
USF AT A GLANCE

• The Dons saw their five-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday when they fell to host UC Santa Barbara 73-71 at the Thunderdome.  The Dons two losses have come by a combined six points in 2018-19.  They lost by four to No. 21 Buffalo (85-81).
• USF is 100-80 all-time against visiting Saint Mary's.  The 180 games played is the second largest series in USF history.  At home since World War II, the Dons are 41-26 (.612%) against the Gaels.
• In the latest NET rankings, the Dons fell from 25th to 40th. It is the first time this season they have been outside the Top-30.  USF is second in the WCC according to the NET rankings and ranks higher than all 12 Pac-12 schools. 
• The Dons are 9-0 at home this season, in the 60 year history of War Memorial Gym, USF has gone undefeated four times.  USF's best season at their home building was in the 1980-81 season when the Dons went 18-0.  Under head coach Kyle Smith, USF has gone 36-10 at home.
• The Dons had a season-high 17 offensive rebounds against UC Santa Barbara last Saturday.  Unfortunately, the Dons could only convert those 17 offensive rebounds into 19 points, 10 of which occurred in the first 13 minutes of the contest.
• In the loss against UCSB on Saturday, the Dons received their first loss when leading at the intermission.  The Dons are 12-1 when leading at the half.  In the Kyle Smith era, the Dons are 49-8 when leading at halftime.
• For the second time this season, the Dons took the loss when scoring at least 70 points.  Under Kyle Smith, the Dons have scored 70 or more points 55 times, they are 43-12 when scoring at least 70. 

 
THE SERIES
Thursday night will be the 181^st matchup between the Dons and Gaels.  It is the second longest rivalry in USF history.  All-time, USF owns a 100-80 advantage in the series that dates back to the 1930-31 season.  In the first ever matchup, the Dons defeated the Gaels 37-23.  Recent history has belonged to the Gaels however, who have won 24 of the last 26 contests.  Last season, the series was split with the home team winning a contest.  At War Memorial Gym the Dons are 32-26. The last time the Dons defeated the Gaels was on Feb. 15, 2018 when the Dons shocked No. 15 SMC 70-63 at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
 
ABOUT THE GAELS
The Gaels enter Thursday's contest with a 9-6 overall record but have won six of their last eight after losing four-straight earlier in the year. On the road this year they are 1-1, and 2-4 overall when not playing at McKeon Pavilion.  SMC is averaging 77.3 points per game and holding opponents to 65.9. Leading the team in scoring is guard Jordan Ford who is averaging 22.7 points per game, he is one of two players averaging double figures for the Gaels.  In their last time out, they defeated San Jose State 75-45 at home on Dec. 29.
 
LAST GAME AGAINST SAINT MARY'S
Earlier in the 2017-18 season, the Gaels defeated the Dons 73-49 in Moraga.  On Feb. 15 it was the Dons chance to turn the table.  After trailing big early, the Dons went on a crucial run late in the first half to cut the deficit to three, 38-35, going into the locker room.  From there the Dons outscored the Gaels 35-25 to complete the upset over the 15th ranked Gaels.  Frankie Ferrari was tremendous in the contest, scoring a game-high 20 points while dishing out seven assists.  He would go on to win WCC Player of the Week honors for his efforts.  Jimbo Lull and Jordan Ratinho were the other Dons to finish in double figures.  Nate Renfro had three blocks, none bigger than his block on SMC center Jock Landale late in the second half that help put the game away for the Dons.

UP NEXT
The Dons travel south to Malibu, Calif., where they will take on Pepperdine on Saturday at 5:00 p.m.  The game will be streamed live on TheW.tv with Play Dan Hellie and Dani Klupenger on the call.  As always, Olson and Brovelli will have the Dons radio broadcast live from Firestone Fieldhouse on 1550-AM The GAME.