Game Summary

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Brensley Haywood (Joliet, Ill.) has been more than happy to spend the majority of his time during the Saint Mary's University men's basketballa team's first three games in the shadows, while players like Michael Batterman (Fond du Lac, Wis.) and Jarvier Pitchford (Chicago, Ill.) took center stage.

In the Cardinals' first three games, Haywood did his part, but it was Batterman and Pitchford who carried the offensive load. Batterman led the Cardinals' offense with 17-point performances against Bethany Lutheran and Crown in SMU's first two games of the season, while Pitchford carried the hot hand with a 21-point effort against Winona State.

But when the Cardinals needed him most, Haywood was more than happy to step into the limelight.

Make that leap into the limelight, as the SMU junior scored a career-high 22 points – hitting nine of his 10 shots from the field – in leading the Cardinals to a 61-56 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over Augsburg Saturday afternoon.

"Brenlsey had a huge game for us — and he could not have picked a better time," said SMU coach Mike Trewick of his junior wing, who came into Saturday's game averaging 9 ppg. "Augsburg is a physical team and they did a good job of taking away our posts, and Brensley was there to pick up the slack."

The Cardinals, who have now won two of their last three — with the lone loss a 13-point setback to NCAA Division II Winona State last Wednesday — jumped out to a 29-22 halftime advantage, then held on down the stretch to post their first conference win of the season.

"Any time you can come away with a win it's nice, but for that win to be in conference is even sweeter," said Trewick. "I wouldn't say this was our best performance of the season, but we did what we had to to come away with the win, and that's the bottom line."