Game Summary

NORTHFIELD, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University men's basketball team shot just 33 percent from the field in the first half of Wednesday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game against Carleton.

But then, for the Cardinals, slow starts aren't all that uncommon — it's fast finishes that SMU is quickly becoming famous for. 

Against the Knights, however, the end was eerily similar to the beginning, as the Cardinals once against shot a dismal 33 percent from the field in the second half in falling to Carleton 69-55.

Terrence Smith (Broadview, Ill.) scored 12 points in the losing effort for SMU, which trailed by 10, 37-32, at the half, but quickly cut the gap to five, 38-33, to start the second half. Unfazed by SMU's attempted comeback, Carleton responded with a 10-1 run of their own to take a commanding 48-35 advantage. SMU would get that margin down to 11 with 6:49 left, but that was as close as the Cardinals would come in dropping their second straight.

SMU made an identical 11 of 33 field goals in both halves, but did hold a 35-34 rebounding advantage. The biggest difference came from the free-throw line, where Carleton was 21 of 30, while the Cardinals made just eight trips, sinking six.

SMU, which falls to 4-11 in the MIAC and 5-15 overall, travels to Macalester on Saturday (3 p.m.) to take on the Scots.