When Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga clash, it’s always a battle of adjustments, matchups, and momentum swings. And for Paulius Murauskas, Saturday’s showdown in Spokane is shaping up to be another test in a season where he’s become the centerpiece of everything the Gaels do.
Murauskas has seen plenty of Gonzaga defenders over the years - and none have made life easy on him. In last season’s regular-season meetings, the Zags countered his size with Ben Gregg, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward who matched Murauskas pound for pound. When Gregg wasn’t on the floor, the Gaels' junior forward had to deal with the athleticism of Michael Ajayi, a versatile wing who brought a different kind of pressure.
Even when Murauskas struggled to find a rhythm, he still managed to put up 19 points on 7-of-19 shooting across two Saint Mary’s wins. But the WCC Tournament title game was a different story.
Gonzaga went big, sending 6-10 Braden Huff to shadow Murauskas - and it worked. The Lithuanian forward was held scoreless on 0-for-7 shooting in just 14 minutes, a rare off night in an otherwise productive stretch.
This weekend, the faces guarding him will change, but the challenge won’t get any easier.
Gregg, Ajayi, and Huff are no longer in the picture for Saturday’s matchup at the McCarthey Athletic Center. But with Graham Ike expected back from an ankle injury, Gonzaga has options - and one of the most intriguing might be Jalen Warley.
Warley isn’t the biggest name on the Zags’ roster, but he’s been one of their most consistent and impactful players this season, especially with the team navigating frontcourt injuries. His defensive versatility has been a lifeline for Mark Few’s squad, and he’s already notched eight games with at least four steals. If Gonzaga goes small, expect Warley to slide into the five-spot defensively, with 6-7 wings Tyon Grant-Foster or Davis Fogle potentially taking turns guarding Murauskas.
“He’s really talented,” Warley said of Murauskas. “They’re well-coached, and they put him in great spots.
It’s going to take a team effort - we’ve got the depth and different looks to make things tough for him. It’s about five-on-five defense, help rotations, and using our size and lineups to wear him down.”
Murauskas has certainly earned that kind of respect. After Saint Mary’s lost four starters from last season, the offense has flowed almost entirely through him. And he’s delivered - averaging a WCC-best 19.3 points per game and leading the Gaels in scoring in six of their last eight contests.
His efficiency has been a bit of a roller coaster, which is expected when the defensive attention ramps up and the usage rate spikes. He’s shooting a career-high 48.4% from the field, but his perimeter game still hasn’t fully clicked - his 3-point percentage is hovering just under 30%.
Against Gonzaga specifically, the numbers haven’t been kind. In three career games, he’s just 7-of-26 from the field (26%) and 1-of-7 from deep. His rebounding, typically a strength, has dipped from his season average of 7.5 boards per game to just 4.3 against the Zags.
Still, this version of Murauskas looks different. He’s playing with more confidence, attacking with more purpose, and embracing the role of go-to guy. He’s scored in double figures in 21 of 22 games this season, including a monster 30-point, 15-rebound performance against Seattle U earlier this month.
“Paulius is really aggressive this year,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “He’s doing a great job offensively. He’s become a really, really good player.”
The Gaels are going to need every bit of that from him Saturday night. With the WCC title race heating up and both teams eyeing March, this isn’t just another rivalry game - it’s a measuring stick.
And for Murauskas, it’s another chance to prove he belongs in the spotlight, even when the lights are brightest and the defenders just keep coming.