Guard Stephen Holt stepping up for red-hot St. Mary’s

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN Sports) – Stephen Holt, who is emerging for defensive skills, netted a team-high 19 points to lead the No. 21 St. Mary’s Gaels to their 20th win on the season Thursday night against the Loyola Marymount Lions.

It marked the eighth time in school history that the Gaels (20-2, 9-0 West Coast Conference) have won 20 games.

Holt, who scored in double-figures along with the team’s other four starters in Saturday’s conquest of the Santa Clara Broncos, is averaging 10.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 3.4 apg on the season.

The Gaels’ 20-year-old sophomore guard was 6 of 13 from the floor as he led four St. Mary’s starters in double-digit scoring in a 71-64 win over Loyola Marymount at Gersten Pavilion.

Holt also went 3 for 5 from 3-point range and was 4 of 5 from the charity stripes Thursday.

Holt has scored in double figures in the past six contests for the Gaels.

The 6-4, 195-pound guard came in with a league-leading 2.2 steals per game. He also leads the WCC with 2.4 assist to turnover ratio.

Holt also had six rebounds and had one steal against the Lions.

Matthew Dellavedova scored 13, Rob Jones had 11 points and 15 rebounds while Brad Waldow chipped in 10 markers for the Gaels, who have won their past 10 games.

Saint Mary’s shot 49 percent in the game. Loyola Marymount, which was paced by Drew Viney, who scored 18, finished with a 41.4 percent shooting clip.

Thursday’s clash was the 130th between the two schools, with the Gaels holding a 77-53 advantage. St. Mary’s has taken the last 10 meetings in the rivalry.

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