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79		85

Game Summary / GameDay Online

ST. PETER, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University men's basketball team scored 79 points in its Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game against Gustavus — the Cardinals' third-highest offensive output of the season.

In fact, the Cardinals and Gusties were mirror images in virtually every statistical category.

Every category but one — rebounds.

Gustavus outrebounded SMU 45-23 — including 20-6 on the offensive end — as the Gusties rolled to an 85-79 conference victory Monday evening.

"Rebounds were the difference," said SMU coach Mike Trewick. "We did everything we could ask of the guys on the offensive end. We shot 49 percent from the field and turned the ball over just nine times — those are outstanding numbers.

"(Gustavus) just killed us on the boards — and that was the difference."

The Cardinals boasted a season-best five players in double figures against the Gusties. In fact, the quintet accounted for 68 of the team's 79 points, as Will Wright (Chicago, Ill.) — fresh off a career-best 31-point effort against St. Olaf on Saturday — tossed in 17 points, while Nick Carr (Minneapolis, Minn.) added 14. Lukas Holland (La Crosse, Wis.) chipped in 13 points, with Josh Knights (Plainfield, Wis.) and Michael Rohr (Bloomingdale, Ill.) each tallying 12. Kane Sivesind and Trevor Wittwer led the way for the Gusties, scoring 26 and 21 points, respectively.

Trailing by as many as eight in the first half, the Cardinals used a 7-0 run to cut the lead to one. 28-27, with six minutes to play in the half.  The Gusties countered with a 6-0 run of their own, only to have SMU use its  own 6-0 run to make it a one-point game, 36-35, with just over a minute remaining until the intermission. GAC's Mike DesLauriers banked in a running layup with :06 left on the clock to give Gustavus a 41-37 lead at halftime.

After trailing by as many as 12 in the second half, SMU clawed its way back, pouring in three consecutive 3-point baskets (two by Rohr and one by Knights) to cut the Gustavus lead to four, 82-78, with 28 seconds remaining in regulation. Blake Moses (Coon Rapids, Minn.) would make one of two free throws to make it a three-point game, 82-79, but the Gusties would score the game's final three points to secure the win.

"It's a tough loss — we put ourselves in position to win, we just couldn't make the plays down the stretch," said Trewick, whose team dropped its 24th straight game at Gustavus, dating back to the 1982-83 season. The Cardinals have never won a game on Gus Young Court, which was dedicated in the 1984-85 season. "We got the stops we needed late in the game, but each time we'd make a stop, (Gustavus) would get the rebound. Sometimes we'd even make the second stop — and give up another offensive rebound. It's tough to win games when you are doing that."