PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Omar Samhan was an unstoppable Gael force and played the game of his career, finishing with 32 points and seven rebounds to lead 10th-seeded Saint Mary's past Villanova 75-68 on Saturday and improbably into the NCAA tournament's round of 16.

Mickey McConnell stopped and fired an arching 25-footer that banked high off the glass for a 68-65 lead with 1:15 left.

Samhan used a two-handed block to turn back Reggie Redding and McConnell made both ends of a 1-and-1 to make it 70-65.

The soldout crowd was well behind the Gaels (28-5).

The Wildcats (25-8) made an early exit a year after they played in the Final Four. They started 20-1 and collapsed at the end.

Saint Mary's is off the Houston to play in the South Regional's Sweet 16.