Box Score  | GameDay Preview

PARKLAND, Wash. — The last time the Saint Mary's University men's basketball team faced Pacific Lutheran, the Lutes torched the Cardinals for 97 points in a 97-91-nonconference victory.

Thirteen years later, Saint Mary's and Pacific Lutheran squared off again — and this time the SMU defense clamped down on the Lutes, limiting PLU to just 68 points.

Unfortunately, 68 points proved to be enough, as Pacific Lutheran scored 18 of the game's final 25 points in handing the Cardinals a 68-54 setback during the opening day of the two-day Pacific Lutheran Thanksgiving Classic.

Pacific Lutheran took control early, knocking down 16 of its 29 first-half field goals in racing out to an 11-point, 33-22, halftime advantage.

The Lutes would maintain what appeared to be a comfortable advantage through the early minutes of the second half, holding a 48-36 advantage with 11 minutes remaining in regulation.

Over the next three minutes, the Cardinals went on a 7-0 tear, whittling the Lutes' 12-point cushion down to three points, 50-47. Pacific Lutheran, however, answered with an 8-0 run of its own to push the lead back to 11, 58-47 with six minutes remaining — and the Cardinals could get no closer than eight the rest of the way.

Will Swiggum (St. Charles, Minn.) led the way for the Cardinals, scoring a team-best 15 points, while adding 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Bakari Collins (Kenosha, Wis.) chipped in 10 points for the Cardinals, who shot 38 percent from the field (17-for-45) — including 3 of 11 from the 3-point line — while knocking down 17 of 21 free throw attempts.

Arvid Isakson netted 15 points to lead four players in double figures for the Lutes (3-1 overall). Bryce Miller chipped in 12 points and Daniel Landram and Kai Hoyt each added 11.

The Cardinals (1-2 overall) are back in action on Saturday, squaring off against Puget Sound in a 4 p.m. (CST) game.