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NORTHFIELD, Minn. — Michael Burfeind (Lewiston, Minn.) scored 18 points and Pat Freeman (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) added 14, but the duo's efforts were not enough against St. Olaf Saturday, as the Oles handed the Saint Mary's University men's basketball team a 90-69 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback.

The two teams jockeyed for position over the first 10 minutes of the first half, with both teams taking turns playing with the lead — SMU owned a game-high five-point, 14-9, advantage, while the Oles held one-point leads on three separate occasions — before the game was tied for a second time, 20-20, with 10:25 remaining.

Over those final 10:25, it was the Oles who took control, outscoring SMU 27-12 to take its biggest lead of the half — 46-32 — into the locker room at the break.

And the Oles continued to sizzle in the second half, shooting 65 percent from the field (15-for-23) — including a 5-for-7 effort from behind the 3-point line — in outscoring the Cardinals 43-37 in the game's final 20 minutes.

Burfeind knocked down six field goals and was 5 of 6 from the line en route to his 18 points, while Freeman used a 3-for-5 performance from behind the 3-point line to fuel his 14-point effort.

Bobby Fong and Stu Neville led the way for St. Olaf, scoring 18 points apiece, with Matthew Hultgren (12 points) and Sterling Nielson (10 points) also scoring in double figures.

The Cardinals (3-10 MIAC, 3-15 overall) are back in action on Monday, when they host Concordia in a 7 p.m. conference game at the SMU Gym.