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WINONA, Minn. — It may have been snowy and cold outside, but inside SMU Gym, it was nice and warm — especially if you were a Saint Mary's University men's basketball fan.

The Cardinals, with the help of a snowed-in student section, got 18 points from Will Wright (Chicago, Ill.) and Lukas Holland (La Crosse, Wis.) and rolled to a 69-55 MIAC victory over Concordia-Moorhead Saturday afternoon.

The win improves SMU to 5-1 overall, and 3-1 in MIAC play.

“We knew we needed this game and it was a big win for us,” Wright said. “Our bench came up big tonight and the crowd was great, we really fed off them tonight.”

While the gym wasn't full with the estimated 285 in attendance, the 100 or so student section made sure they were heard.

SMU led 35-22 at the break, but the Cobbers wouldn't back down.
Concordia (0-3 MIAC, 3-4 overall) chipped away at the Cardinal lead and found themselves down four with just over 12 minutes remaining.

That's when Chris Palmer (Faribault, Minn.) and Wright knocked down 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to give SMU a 53-43 lead, and take the wind out of Concordia's sails.

“That's the advantage of having talented, confident players that aren't afraid to take those big shots,” SMU coach Todd Landrum said. “That's not an easy thing to do.”

Defensively the Cardinals frustrated Concordia all game long, as the Cobbers shot just 30 percent (7-for-23) from beyond the arc, including just 3 of 15 in the first half.

SMU also held Concordia big man John Fraase to just 10 points and two rebounds. Fraase came into the game averaging 14.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

“That all started with Pat Connolly (Chicago, Ill.),” Landrum said. “His defense on their post players was a huge difference.

“I don't give out game balls, but if I did, Connolly would have gotten it today.”

After building the lead back up to 12, the Cardinals sealed the game at the free throw line, as they shot 95 percent from the line, converting 22 of 23.

Concordia was just 4-for-6 from the charity stripe.

“Our goal is always to make more free throws than our opponent attempts,” Landrum said. “Getting to the line is a big part of our game.”

The Cardinals also outrebounded Concordia 33-24.

Pat Freeman (Champlin, Minn.) came off the bench to score 14, while Palmer finished with nine points and six rebounds.

The Cardinals are back in action on Wednesday, traveling to La Crosse, Wis., for a nonconference game against Viterbo.