AN EXCELLENT offensive performance from Alex Ducas has seen the Saint Mary’s Gaels topple the BYU Cougars in the NCAAM on Monday, claiming a seven-point triumph at Orleans Arena.
It was always going to be a tall task for the Cougars, given the strength of Saint Mary’s list and the form the Gaels had been in. Things were looking like panning out as expected, when Saint Mary’s took a commanding lead in the first half. Although BYU fought back to close out the match, it was too little, too late as the Gaels edged home to a 76-69 triumph.
Australian native Ducas was the standout in Saint Mary’s win, delivering a composed offensive performance that was headlined by his accuracy. He was the most damaging scorer on the court and continued his rise overseas.
BYU Cougars (69) def. by Saint Mary’s Gaels (76)
Alex Ducas – 23 points, seven rebounds, two assists
Ducas has been on the up during his time in the NCAAM, and that trend continued with an outstanding showing against BYU.
His 23 points were the most of any player on the court by a considerable margin, not shying away from a scoring opportunity.
What was most impressive about Ducas’ performance was his accuracy from the field, rarely wasting a shot. Seven of his 11 attempts from the field found the bottom of the net, constantly hurting the opposition with his ability to sink a shot across all three levels.
His balance of inside and outside scoring proved to be a true headache for the Cougars defence, with the opposition unable to predict where his next basket would come from. The guard not only attacked the rim with intent, but also got involved from the perimeter.
From three-point territory, Ducas shot 4/7, showcasing the improvement in his shooting motion. Working hard to get free off the ball, the Aussie punished BYU for any space it gave him around the arc.
His ferocity when driving inside the paint also resulted in some trips to the free throw line, with the defence unable to establish legal guarding methods in time. From the charity stripe, he nailed five of his six attempts and made the opposition pay for some sloppy interior defence.
Ducas delivered another outstanding showing for the Gaels, and continued to demonstrate his ability to be a number one scoring option on one of the nation’s strongest sides.
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