ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University men's basketball team returns to the court on Saturday, traveling to Macalester for a 3 p.m. conference game against the Scots.



The Matchup:
Saint Mary's Cardinals (0-5 MIAC | 0-10 Overall)
at Macalester Scots (1-5 MIAC | 1-10 Overall)

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Last Action:
Gustavus used an 11-2 run to start the second half to pull away from SMU, handing the Cardinals a 62-45 conference setback Wednesday evening in St. Peter, Minn. … Macalester, meanwhile, never got its offense on track in dropping an 86-50 MIAC decision at Augsburg Wednesday in Minneapolis, Minn.

SMU vs. Macalester — A Year Ago:
December 4, 2010: SMU, which didn't get the end result it was hoping for in a conference-opening 63-54 loss to, took out its frustrations on Macalester, as the Cardinals rallied late en route to an 87-80 MIAC victory over the Scots at Leonard Center.
January 29, 2011: Chris Palmer scored 31 points — including a 21-for-23 performance from the free throw line — as the Cardinals completed a season sweep of Macalester with a 76-63 win at the SMU Gym.

Up Next:
The Cardinals are right back in action on Wednesday, as SMU plays its third home game of the season, hosting Bethel in a 7:30 p.m. conference contest at the SMU Gym. … Macalester, meanwhile, is off until next Saturday, when the Scots host Gustavus in a 3 p.m. MIAC game at Leonard Center in St. Paul, Minn.

Saint Mary's Cardinals News and Notes:
2011-12 Roster | 2011-12 Statistics | 2011-12 Schedule
Saturday's game against Macalester is the ninth road game of the season for the Cardinals, who have played just twice on their home court. … After Saturday's showdown with the Scots, SMU will play five of its next six games at the SMU Gym. … Michael Burfeind (Lewiston, Minn.) scored a team-high 15 points for the Cardinals against Gustavus Wednesday, while Tom Gores (Rochester, Minn.) also finished in double figures vs. the Gusties with 10 points. … Burfeind's effort marked the fifth straight game and the eighth time in the Cardinals' 10 games that he has led the team in scoring. … Burfeind has now scored in double figures in nine of the Cardinals' 10 games — including five games of 20 or more points. … Burfeind scored a career-high 38 points against Concordia on Dec. 7. It was the first 30-point effort of Burfeind's career and was the most scored by a Cardinal since Will Wright tossed in 41 against MacMurray (Ill.) on Nov. 22, 2008. … Like Burfeind, Pat Freeman (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) enjoyed a career night against Concordia on Dec. 7, scoring 23 points. … With their 38- and 23-point efforts against Concordia on Dec. 7, Burfeind and Freeman marked the first time SMU has had two players score 20 or more points in the same game this season. … Burfeind, who recorded his first collegiate double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds against Saint John's on Dec. 5, enters Saturday's game at Macalester as the team leader in scoring (20.4 ppg) and rebounding (5.4 rpg). … Burfend's 20.4 ppg average ranks him second in the MIAC in scoring. … Freeman is also averaging in double figures at 10.8 ppg, while Evan Pederson (Onalaska, Wis.), who scored a career-best 15 points against Saint John's on Dec. 5, is the team-leader in assists (40 / 4.0 apg) and is third in scoring (8.0 ppg). … The Cardinals, who closed out the 2010-2011 season as the top free-throw shooting team in all of NCAA Division III — shooting a school-record .794 from the line (394-for-496) — are 168-for-215 (78 percent) from the line this season.  … SMU ranks No. 2 in NCAA Division III in free throw percentage. … The Cardinals set season-highs for field goals (26), field goal attempts (60), 3-pointers (6), 3-point attempts (18), and rebounds (41) against Concordia on Dec. 7. … SMU went to the free throw line a season-high 32 times against UW-Oshkosh on Nov. 25, converting on 28 of their 32 attempts. … SMU dished out a season-high 15 assists against St. Olaf on Dec. 3. … The Cardinals committed just three turnovers vs. UW-Oshkosh on Nov. 25, the fewest since recording three turnovers against Augsburg on Feb. 10, 2007.

Macalester Scots News and Notes:
2011-12 Roster | 2011-12 Statistics | 2011-12 Schedule
Saturday's game against Saint Mary's is the first of back-to-back home games for the Scots, who are in the midst of a stretch of five home contests in a six-game span. … The Scots snapped their season-opening nine game losing streak on Monday, slipping past Carleton 61-59. … Macalester's 50 points Wednesday's 86-50 setback at Augsburg marked the fourth time this season the Scots have been held to 50 or fewer points. … On the flip side, Augsburg's 86-point effort equaled the most points allowed by Macalester this season. The Scots also surrendered 86 points in an 86-64 loss at St. Thomas on Dec. 7. … The Scots gave up the game's first 21 points against Augsburg Wednesday. … Pierce Peters scored a team-high 20 points for Macalester against Augsburg on Wednesday. It was the fourth straight game of 20 or more points for Peters, who enters Saturday's game against Saint Mary's averaging 19.0 ppg. … Peters has now led the team in scoring in nine of its 11 games — including a season-high 28 points against Cal-Tech on Dec. 12. … Peters also owns four double-doubles this season, including a 20-point, 18-rebound showing against Northwestern (Minn.) on Nov. 22. … Peters (18) and Justin Wasik (13) have accounted for 31 of the team's 36 3-pointers this season. … Peters is also the team leader in rebounds (95, 8.6 rpg), while shooting 88 percent from the free throw line (47-for-53). … As a team, the Scots are averaging 55.4 ppg, while Macalester's opponents are scoring at a 68.5 ppg clip.