Game Summary

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — Saint Mary's University men's basketball coach Bob Biebel probably didn't feel like it was too much to ask for.

After all, his Cardinals had struggled through a season-opening five-game winning streak. So with one game left before the Christmas holiday, all Biebel and the Cardinals wanted for Christmas was a two-game winning streak.

Instead, Bethel — playing the role of the Grinch to perfection — gave the Cardinals a lump of coal in the form of an 83-71 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback Wednesday evening.

The loss came just four days after SMU had broken out of its season-opening funk with a 59-58 victory over Concordia.

Brett Johnson (Onalaska, Wis.) scored a career-high 31 points in the losing effort for SMU (1-3 MIAC, 1-6 overall), while Nick Michaels (Dyer, Ind.) and Jason Dzick (Duluth, Minn.) also finished in double figures with 16 and 13 points, respectively.

A 16-6 run in the final five minutes of the first half turned a six-point nailbiter into a lopsided 47-32 Bethel advantage as the teams went into the locker room at the half. SMU came out smoking in the second half, shooting 48 percent from the field en route to 39 second-half points. The late rally was too little, too late, however as the Royals — a preseason pick to win the conference crown — won for the fifth time in its seven games.

Andy Gilbert led the way for the Royals (1-2 MIAC, 5-2 overall), scoring 22 points, while Brett Repasky tallied 18, Eric Robertson added 15 and Trevor Larson finished with 12.