Game Summary

WINONA, Minn. — It was a good news, bad news night for the Saint Mary's University men's basketball team Wednesday evening.

The good news: SMU didn't allow St. Olaf anywhere near the 97.0 ppg average of the Cardinals' first three opponents.

The bad news: The Cardinals still lost as St. Olaf used a 20-4 second-half run to hand SMU its fourth straight setback, 78-72.

After battling to a 43-43 halftime tie, St. Olaf took its first lead of the game, 55-52, on a Mike Ludwig three-pointer. When the Oles' big second-half run finally ended — on a three-pointer by Jeb Johnson six minutes later — St. Olaf held a commanding 70-56 advantage with just over seven minutes remaining in regulation.

Down, but now out, the Cardinals (0-1 MIAC, 0-4 overall) clawed to within two, 74-72, with 1:10 remaining, only to have the Oles score the game's final four points to seal the win.

Brett Johnson (Onalaska, Wis.) scored a team-high 23 points — including 14 in the first half — and dished out six assists, while Nick Michaels (Dyer, Ind.) netted 15 points and Ryan Wilt (Naperville, Ill.) pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.

Ludwig finished with a game-high 24 points to lead five St. Olaf players in double figures. Johnson added 15 points, while Matt Schlenker finished with 11 and Matt Hofkens and Justin Bonestroo each pitched in 10.