Game Summary vs. GAC / GameDay Online

ST. PETER, Minn. — For 37 minutes, the Saint Mary's University men's basketball team matched Gustavus blow-for-blow

For the final three minutes, however, the Gusties' 1-2 punch was too much for the Cardinals to handle.

Gustavus used a 14-8 run over the game's final three minutes — including a perfect 6-for-6 performance from the free throw line in the final minute — to turn a 52-51 advantage into a 66-59 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory.

The Cardinals got out the gates in a hurry, scoring the game's first seven points and remained in the driver's seat until the 11-minute mark, when GAC's Tim Olmstead's field goal knotted the game at 11-11. The last 11 minutes would include three lead changes and three tie games, with GAC grabbing a 28-26 lead at the intermission.

And it was more of the same in the second half, with Gustavus grabbing its biggest lead, 59-51, on a free throw by Sam Paulson with 55 seconds remaining that capped a 7-0 run.

Lukas Holland (La Crosse, Wis.) and Will Wright (Chicago, Ill.) led the way for the Cardinals' offense, scoring 19 and 17 points, respectively. Holland went 7-for-16 from the field with a perfect 4-for-4 showing from the free throw line, while Wright was 6 of 19 from the field and 4-for-8 from the line.

Ryan McPartland netted 14 points to lead three GAC players in double figures. Jesse Van Sickle chipped in 11 points and Robert Schmidt finished with 10 for the Gusties.

The Cardinals, who fall to 4-8 in the MIAC and 5-12 overall, return to action Saturday, playing host to Saint John's at 3 p.m. at the SMU Gym.