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WINONA, Minn. — Michael Burfeind (Lewiston, Minn.) scored a team-high 15 points, but the rest of the Saint Mary's University men's basketball team couldn't seem to find their shooting touch, as Gustavus raced out to a 38-19 halftime advantage and never looked back in handing the Cardinals a 64-44 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback Wednesday at the SMU Gym.

Despite struggling to find their range early, the Cardinals kept pace with Gustavus for the first 11 minutes, trailing by just three, 14-11. From there, however, GAC heated up — and the Cardinals couldn't answer — as the Gusties outscored SMU 24-8 the rest of the way to take a 19-point, 38-19 advantage into the locker room at the break.

The Cardinals, who shot 25 percent from the field in the game's opening half, making 8 of 31 field goals, knocked down nine second-half field goals, but it was not nearly enough, as the league-leading Gusties held SMU at bay over the final 20 minutes to seal the win.

Burfeind was the only Cardinal to score in double figures, while Pat Freeman (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) chipped in six points, three assists and a team-best eight rebounds.

Seth Anderson finished with a game-high 19 points — 17 coming in the first half — to lead the way for Gustavus (13-3 MIAC, 16-5 overall). Ty Moore added 16 points and Paul Blacklock collected 15 rebounds for GAC.

The Cardinals (5-11 MIAC, 5-16 overall) are back in action on Saturday, traveling to Minneapolis, Minn., for a 3 p.m. MIAC contest against Augsburg.