Box Score Game Summary / GameDay Preview

ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University men's basketball team got its season off and running Monday evening — literally and figuratively.

The Cardinals scored the game's first six points, raced out to an 11-point, 37-26 halftime lead and never trailed in handing Crown a 78-57 nonconference setback in the teams' season opener.

“It was a good start for us,” said SMU coach Todd Landrum, whose Cardinals won their season opener for the second straight season. “Everyone got to play and did a nice job — it was a good way for us to kick off the season.”

Will Wright (Chicago, Ill.) led a trio of Cardinals in double figures, scoring a game-high 18 points on 8 of 16 shooting from the field. Chris Palmer (Faribault, Minn.) chipped in a season-opening double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Lukas Holland (La Crosse, Wis.) chipped in 16 points.

As a team, the Cardinals shot 42.9 percent from the field (33-for-77) and held a commanding 47-31 rebounding advantage.

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday, when they kick off the home portion of their schedule with a 7 p.m. nonconference contest against Luther at the SMU Gym.