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ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University men's basketball team matched Hamline nearly basket-for-basket over the game's final 20 minutes Monday evening.

Over the game's opening 20 minutes, however, the Cardinals could not keep pace with the Pipers, as Hamline scored the game's first nine points and never looked back in handing SMU an  82-58 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback at Hutton Arena.

Hamline shot a blistering 59 percent from the field in the first half, draining 22 of 37 field goals — including a 3-for-7 effort from behind the 3-point line — in grabbing a 47-24 halftime advantage.

The Cardinals held the Pipers to 35 second-half points — while scoring 34 of their own — but could not cut into HU's halftime cushion.

Michael Burfeind (Lewiston, Minn.), back after missing three games with a concussion, scored a team-high 14 points for the Cardinals, while Will Swiggum (St. Charles, Minn.) chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds.

SMU shot 43 percent from the field for the game, hitting 10 field goals in each half, while hitting 18 of 29 free throws, including a 14-for-21 effort over the game's final 20 minutes.

Charlie Choiniere scored a game-high 16 points to lead four Hamline players in double figures. Austin Johnson added 14 points, with Noah Aguirre and Dior Ford tallying 13 and 10 points, respectively.

The Cardinals are back in action on Wednesday, when they return home to host eighth-ranked St. Thomas in a 7:30 p.m. conference game at the SMU Gym.