WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University men's basketball team heads across town to take on NCAA Division II Winona State in an exhibition game Saturday at McCown Gym. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.


The Matchup:
Saint Mary's University Cardinals (0-0 Overall)
Winona State Warriors (0-0 Overall)

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Last Action:
For the Cardinals, today's game is an exhibition contest and does not count in their overall record, while the contest is the actual season opener for the Warriors, who have already played three exhibition games — beating UW-Eau Claire (75-60), falling to the University of Minnesota (78-72) and beating St. Thomas (82-62).

Last Meeting — December 28, 2009:
Winona State used a 17-4 run early in the second half to pull away from the Cardinals en route to an 83-70 nonconference victory at McCown Gym.

Up Next:
The Cardinals officially kick off their season on Monday, November 15, when they travel to St. Bonifacius, Minn., for a nonconference game against Crown College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Winona State, meanwhile, are headed to Florida for a pair of nonconference games, beginning Nov. 17 against Northwood University.

Saint Mary's Cardinals News and Notes:
It was a banner year for SMU's Lukas Holland (La Crosse, Wis.) and Will Wright (Chicago, Ill.), who both earned All-MIAC First-Team honors last season. The two became the 25th and 26 members of the SMU 1,000-point Club. Wright eclipsed 1,000 career points on Dec. 5 against Bethel, while Holland hit 1,000 career points on Feb. 1 against St. Thomas. … Both Holland and Wright scored their 1,000th career points on SMU's home floor. … Wright, who closed out the season as the team's scoring leader (453 points, 18.1 ppg), currently ranks eighth in career scoring with 1,354 points. He enters his senior year 190 points behind No. 7 Ken Jansen, and 557 points behind all-time career leader Marvin Tunstall (1,911 points). … Holland, meanwhile, scored 359 points last season and ranks 22nd with 1,080 career points. … Holland and Wright each enjoyed 30-point performances last season — Wright tossed in 30 points in SMU's season finale against Augsburg on Feb. 19, while Holland tossed in a career-best 32 points on Feb. 17 against St. Olaf. … Wright scored 10 or more points in all 25 games a year ago and has netted at least 10 points 66 times in his 70 collegiate games. Wright also scored 20 or more points nine times last season. … SMU finished the season boasting three players averaging in double figures — Wright (18.1 ppg), Holland (14.4 ppg) and Chris Palmer (Faribault, Minn.) (14.4 ppg). … Palmer — named to the MIAC's All-First Year Team and an honorable-mention All-MIAC selection — recorded double-doubles in four of his last five games and finished with 10 or more points and rebounds eight times. Along with his seven double-doubles, Palmer also had five games of 10 or more points and nine rebounds this year. … Wright ranked second in the MIAC in scoring (17.3 ppg in 20 conference games), while Palmer was fourth (15.4 ppg). … Palmer also finished third in free throw percentage (88%) and fifth in rebounding (8.0 rpg), while Wright was fifth in steals (1.44 spg). … As a team, SMU ranked No. 1 in the MIAC in free throw percentage (318-for-414, 77%). … Six of the Cardinals' nine wins came on their home floor. … The Cardinals erupted for a season-high 98 points in their conference win over Hamline on Feb. 10. It was the most points scored by an SMU team since netting 99 in a 105-99 loss to Macalester during the 1994-95 season. It was also the most points in a win since the Cardinals netted 106 in beating Macalester 106-92 during the 1978-79 season. … After going five years without a game with five double-figure scorers, the Cardinals did it twice last season. … The Cardinals ended a 17-year winless drought against Gustavus on Jan. 27, when they knocked off the playoff-bound Gusties 78-75 at the SMU Gym | 2009-2010 Final Overall Statistics

Winona State Warriors News and Notes:
Winona State finished the 2009-10 season with a 20-10 mark, while going 15-8 in the NSIC. WSU advanced to the first round of the NCAA Tournament, falling to Mesa State. It was the sixth straight season in which WSU has reached the NCAA Tournament, with national championships in 2006 and 2008. … The Warriors, selected as preseason favorites to win the NCIC — garnering 10 of the possible 14 first-place votes from conference coaches — return six of their top seven scorers return from last season, while also having the services of NCAA Division I transfers Anthony Tucker and Caleb Palkert. … WSU enters the season ranked No. 9 in The Sporting News Preaseason Top 10, while Tucker — a transfer from the University of Iowa — was tabbed a preseason honorable-mention All-American after averaging 11.9 ppg in 11 games with the Hawkeyes last season | 2009-2010 Final Overall Statistics