vs.
59		77

Game Summary / GameDay Online

LINCOLN, Neb. — Every year from 1965 through 1976, the Saint Mary's University and Luther men's basketball teams squared off in a nonconference game, with the Cardinals winning seven of the 12 meetings — including a 97-85 win in their final meeting on Dec. 10, 1976.

Since then, the only time the Cardinals and the Norse would meet was in a preseason scrimmage now and then.

Until Friday evening, when the two teams renewed their rivalry in the opening day of the Nebraska Wesleyan Tournament.

And after watching his Cardinals come up short in a 77-59 loss to the Norse, SMU coach Mike Trewick probably wishes his latest meeting with the Norse was just another scrimmage.

"We did not play out brand of basketball and it cost us," said Trewick, whose team fell to 0-2 with the loss, which actually snapped the Cardinals' two-game winning streak vs. Luther. "We told the guys to look inside and be patient, but by doing that, we didn't get the ball up and down the court in a hurry — and that's what we do well."

What the Cardinals didn't do well Friday night was rebound, as Luther held a commanding 42-16 advantage on the boards.

Nick Carr (Minneapolis, Minn.) netted a team-high 15 points for the Cardinals, who close out the four-team tournament Saturday against Nebraska Wesleyan, while Lukas Holland (La Crosse, Wis.) chipped in 14.

"It just wasn't a very good overall effort," said Trewick, whose team trailed by just four, 34-30, at the half, only to be outscored 43-29 over the game's final 20 minutes. "(On Saturday) against Nebraska Wesleyan, we've got to get back to running — we've got to get the ball up the court and score points."