Game Summary

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — When the Saint Mary's University men's basketball team rang in the new year with a 72-67 home win against St. John's, the Cardinals must have thought 2003 was going to be a year to remember.

Instead, it became the year to forget.

After kicking off the new year with that thrilling five-point win, the Cardinals did not get to savor the thrill of victory again, dropping 16 straight games, including Saturday's 62-59 loss to Augsburg in SMU's season finale.

SMU raced out to a 25-23 halftime advantage, and led 42-40 with 10:18 remaining, only to have Augsburg go on an 11-2 run to take its biggest lead of the game, 51-43, with 5:45 left. Down, but not out, SMU scored nine unanswered points — including four from Lance Larson (Lakeville, Minn.) — to regain the lead, 52-51.

Unfortunately for SMU (2-18 MIAC, 2-23 overall) — as has been a recurring theme during the Cardinals' slide — the lead was short-lived as Augsburg used a 10-2 run over a two-minute span late in the game to secure the win.

Nick Michaels (Dyer, Ind.) scored a game-high 22 points in his final collegiate game, while Jim Wangler (Wheaton, Ill.) tossed in 14 points and Dan Kloak (Elmwood Park, Ill.) pulled down 11 rebounds.

Yarzue Slowon scored 15 points to lead four Augsburg players in double figures, while Rob Collins tallied his first career double-double, scoring 12 points and adding a game-high 15 rebounds.