Saint Mary's may not get the national attention of other top mid major programs, but the Gaels have unquestionably been among the most successful in recent years. Their talent and experience were on full display on Tuesday against Yale at the University Credit Union Pavilion in Northern California. Logan Johnson scored 26 points, including 15 straight in the second half, to lift SMC to an 87-60 victory over the Bulldogs.
 
It was the final non-conference game for Yale, which opens Ivy League play at home against Columbia on Sunday.
 
The Bulldogs (6-8) had played the 95^th toughest schedule in the nation according to the NCAA entering the game. That will only rise after the matchup with the Gaels, who improved to 12-3 on the season.
 
Yale also entered the night not having played since Dec. 14.
 
Saint Mary's, which received votes in this week's national coaches' poll, raced out to a 15-6 lead after five minutes. By halftime, the advantage had grown to 46-25.
 
Azar Swain scored 21 points to pace the Bulldogs. He was 5-of-6 from three-point range. Matt Knowling added a career-high 12 points off the bench. Knowling was 5-of-7 from the field.
 
The Gaels are consistently a tough defensive team, but Yale managed to shoot 46.9 percent from the field. The Bulldogs, though, committed 23 turnovers, which SMC turned into 23 points.
 
Saint Mary's has participated in the postseason (6 NCAA, 7 NIT) in each of the last 13 seasons and has the 10th best win percentage of any Div. I team in the nation over the last 10 seasons.
 
Sunday's game vs. Columbia is a noon start at the John J. Lee Amphitheater. It will be televised by NESN and streamed on ESPN+.