St. Mary’s (CA) didn’t leave much room for drama Thursday. The Gaels, carrying a 19-4 record into Feb. 5, 2026, buried San Diego 87-60 and turned what was already a comfortable halftime margin into a runaway.

By the break, St. Mary’s had built a 44-25 advantage. Any hopes of a second-half swing disappeared quickly as the Gaels matched their first-half tone with another 43 points after intermission, finishing the night with an 87-60 win.

How the game swung

The separation came in layers, but the blueprint was simple: St. Mary’s won the middle of the game and never gave it back. The Gaels’ 19-point halftime lead (44-25) forced San Diego to chase the game from the opening stages of the second half.

San Diego’s best offensive stretch came after the break, scoring 35 in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to change the trajectory. St. Mary’s answered with 43 of its own, keeping the margin inflated and closing the door without letting the game tighten.

Scoreline, by halves

Halftime: St. Mary’s 44, San Diego 25

Second half: St. Mary’s 43, San Diego 35

Final: St. Mary’s 87, San Diego 60

What it means going forward

For St. Mary’s, the win reinforces the profile of a team that can turn a solid first half into a decisive finish. Coming in with a 19-4 record and a LWWLW recent form line, the Gaels added another emphatic result that keeps them trending in the right direction as the season moves deeper.

For San Diego, now 10-14 with a LWLWW stretch entering the game, the challenge remains sustaining competitive stretches long enough to threaten teams with top-end consistency. The Toreros showed more life offensively in the second half, but the first-half deficit was too steep to overcome.

Game details

League: NCAA
Season: 2025-26
Date: Feb. 5, 2026
Venue: TBD