Ford, Hunter lead St. Mary’s past Bucknell 85-56

MORAGA, Calif. (AP) - Jordan Ford scored 28 points, St. Mary’s shot 55 percent and the Gaels smashed Bucknell 85-56 on Wednesday night.

Ford scored 12 of the Gaels’ first 20 points - Jordan Hunter scored four in that stretch - and St. Mary’s led 20-8 in a game they never trailed. Hunter scored 15 points and he and Jordan combined to shoot 18 of 29. Ford was 4 of 6 from the 3-point line.

Bucknell went on a 15-8 run to close to 28-23 on Jimmy Sotos’ 3-point play with 3:21 left in the first half. The Gaels countered with a 14-5 run and led by 14 at halftime. St. Mary’s led by double digits the rest of the way. Tanner Krebs contributed 12 points.

Bruce Moore scored 18 for Bucknell (4-5) and Kimbal MacKenzie added 14. The Bison entered the game averaging 74.3 points per game on 45 percent shooting. They finished 22 of 63 (35 percent) and 5 of 25 from distance.