It was a perfect week for the Saint Mary’s University men’s basketball team — capped by a near-perfect performance from Eli Cave (St. Paul, Minn.).
Cave, coming off a 22-point performance in the Cardinals’ 66-61 win over Macalester last Wednesday, eclipsed the 20-point barrier for a second straight time three days later against Concordia, scoring 27 points — including a perfect 6-for-6 performance, with four 3-pointers, in the game’s opening half — in a 78-62 Saint Mary’s victory.
All told, Cave finished the week averaging 24.5 ppg, shooting 58.1 percent from the field — going 18-for-31 with five 3-pointers — while also knocking down 5 of 9 free throw attempts. The junior forward also chipped in 12 rebounds, seven assists, and four steals.
Cave heads into the Cardinals’ conference showdown against Augsburg on Wednesday averaging 19.3 ppg — fourth in the MIAC — and 5.7 rpg. He has now scored 10 or more points in all 19 games this season, and has netted 20 or more points nine times this season and 19 times in his collegiate career.