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WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University men's basketball team proved to be in a streak-snapping mood Monday evening when the Cardinals took the court against Concordia.

Not only did SMU put an end to its three-game losing streak and the Cobbers' two-game winning streak with a 64-60 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory, but the Cardinals also handed CC its first loss in eight games when leading at halftime.

Untouchable when leading after the game's opening 20 minutes — boasting a perfect 7-0 mark heading into Monday's game — the Cobbers headed to the locker room with a one-point 28-27 advantage of the Cardinals.

The Cardinals, however, were unimpressed.

SMU outscored Concordia 37-30 over the game's final 20 minutes,  including 13 second-half points by Pat Freeman (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) — four of which came on four free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the Cardinals' victory.

The Cobbers, determined to shut down SMU scoring leader Michael Burfeind (Lewiston, Minn.) — who scored a career-high 38 points in the teams' first meeting on Dec. 11 — forced SMU to look elsewhere for its offensive product.

Which is exactly what the Cardinals did, getting double-figure scoring from four players — including a game-high 22 points from Burfeind, 14 from Freeman and 10 each from Tom Gores (Rochester, Minn.) and Evan Pederson (Onalaska, Wis.).

“We are a lot better team than the last time we played them,” said SMU coach Todd Landrum, whose Cardinals dropped an 85-78 decision to the Cobbers in Moorhead, Minn., on Dec. 11. “They made every effort to defend Mike, and our other guys stepped up.”

Trailing by one at the half, the Cardinals pulled even, 45-45 with 6:56 remaining, and a Gores layup gave SMU a 47-45 advantage — a lead the Cardinals would not relinquish.

Fueled by four players in double figures, the Cardinals shot 46 percent from the field (23-for-50) and were 17 of 23 from the free throw line.

Jason Huus scored 17 points and Brandon Fisher added 15 points and nine rebounds for the Cobbers (5-9 MIAC, 7-12 overall).

The Cardinals (4-10 MIAC, 4-15 overall) are back in action on Saturday, hosting Macalester in a 3 p.m. Senior Day contest. The team will honor graduating seniors Freeman, Tim Kunkel (Northfield, Ill.) and Rod Goolsby (Chicago, Ill.) before the opening tip.