TACOMA, Wash. — The Saint Mary's University men's basketball team got a career-high 27 points from Brett Johnson (Onalaska, Wis.), shot nearly 57 percent from the floor, pulled down 33 rebounds — and still lost.

Despite an impressive offensive effort, the Cardinals came out on the short end of a 97-91 decision to Pacific Lutheran in the opening round of the Puget Sound Tip-Off Classic Friday evening.

Johnson hit 10 of 19 field goals — including 4-for-9 from beyond the three-point line — and was 3-for-5 from the free throw line en route to his career-high 27 points. Jason Dzick (Duluth, Minn.) and Nick Michaels (Dyer, Ind.) also scored in double figures for the Cardinals, finishing with 21 and 18 points, respectively. Dzick also led the team with eight rebounds.

Hazen Hyland led five Pacific Lutheran players in double figures with 21 points, while guard Treven Vander Ploeg dished out a game-high 10 assists.

Despite shooting 50 percent from the field in the first half, the Cardinals found themselves trailing 49-38 at the half. Pacific Lutheran put up 40 first-half field goal attempts, connecting on 20.