WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University men's basketball team steps out of conference play for the final time this season on Wednesday, as the Cardinals host Bethany Lutheran in a 7 p.m. contest at the SMU Gym.

The Matchup:
Saint Mary's Cardinals (1-6 Overall) vs. Bethany Lutheran Vikings (0-6 Overall)

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Last Action:
Despite boasting three players in double figures, the Cardinals could not overcome an 8-0 Ole run to start the game, as St. Olaf led from start to finish in handing SMU an 83-53 MIAC setback Monday at the SMU Gym. … The Vikings scored a season-high 76 points, but still came up well short, as Covenant (Ga.) handed Bethany Lutheran a 94-76 nonconference setback Saturday in Mankato, Minn.

SMU vs. Bethany Lutheran — Their Last Meeting:
December 12, 2012: The Cardinals — with Michael Burfeind (Lewiston, Minn.) leading the way — picked up their first win of the season in their last game before the semester break, as SMU outlasted Bethany Lutheran 59-55 in a nonconference game in Mankato, Minn. Burfeind — coming off a 24-point performance against nationally ranked St. Thomas and a 26-point showing against Crown three days later — was even better against the Vikings, as the senior poured in a season-high 28 points.

Up Next:
Wednesday's game is the final game before the semester break for the Cardinals, who do not return to action until Jan. 2, when SMU hosts Macalester in a 7 p.m. Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest at the SMU Gym. … Bethany Lutheran returns to action on Saturday, when the Vikings square off against their second straight MIAC opponent, traveling to St. Paul, Minn., for a 7:30 p.m. game against St. Thomas.

Scouting The Saint Mary's Cardinals:
2013-14 Roster | 2013-14 Statistics | 2013-14 Schedule
Wednesday's game against Bethany Lutheran is the last nonconference game of the season for the Cardinals. … SMU's showdown vs. the Vikings is also the final game before the Christmas break for the Cardinals. … Wednesday's contest vs. the Vikings is the second of three straight home games for SMU. … Aaron Romportl (Stillwater, Minn.) tossed in a team-high 12 points in the Cardinals' loss to St. Olaf on Monday. The 12-point effort was one point shy of the freshman's collegiate-best 13-point showing against Crown on Nov. 23. … Will Swiggum (St. Charles, Minn.) and Evan Pederson (Onalaska, Wis.) each chipped in 10 points against the Oles Monday. … Pederson tossed in a game- and season-high 21 points for the Cardinals against Saint John's last Saturday. … Pederson's effort vs. Saint John's marked the first time this season an SMU player has eclipsed the 20-point barrier and was just two points shy of his career best — a 23-point showing against North Central on Nov. 17, 2012. … With his 10 points against St. Olaf Monday, Swiggum has scored in double figures in six of SMU's seven games and 19 times in his collegiate career. … Swiggum, who recorded his first double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds against Pacific Lutheran on Nov. 30, has narrowly missed double-double No. 2 and No. 3 — against Bethel on Dec. 4, Swiggum was one point short (9 points, 11 rebounds), and vs. Saint John's on Dec. 7, the sophomore was one rebound shy (10 points, 9 rebounds). … Wylie Ferron (Waconia, Minn.), who scored a career-high 18 points against Bethel on Dec. 4, owns SMU's other double-double this season — the first of his collegiate career — with a 14-point, 11-rebound showing against Crown on Nov. 23. … Swiggum enters Wednesday's nonconference game against Bethany Lutheran boasting a team-leading 12.7 ppg scoring average, while Ferron is second at 9.3 ppg. … Swiggum, who has led the team in rebounding in each of its last five games and six times this season, boasts a team-best 55 rebounds (7.9 rpg). … Pederson, who leads the team with 35 assists, equaled his career-high with nine assists vs. Crown on Nov. 23. It was the third time in his career — and second time in two meetings with Crown — the junior has recorded nine assists. … As a team, the Cardinals have knocked down 29 3-pointers, led by Vix (10) and Swiggum (6). … The Cardinals' 86-81 OT win over Crown on Nov. 23 was not only their first win of the season, but also the first win as a collegiate head coach for SMU's Jamison Rusthoven. … SMU's game against Crown was the first overtime contest since Dec. 29, 2010, when the Cardinals outlasted Millikin 66-59 in double-OT. … SMU's 86 points against the Storm on Nov. 23 were the most since netting 87 points in an 87-80 win over Macalester on Dec. 4, 2010.

Scouting The Bethany Lutheran Vikings:
2013-14 Roster | 2013-14 Statistics | 2013-14 Schedule
Wednesday's game against Saint Mary's is just the second road game for the Vikings, who — after opening the season at St. Olaf — have played five straight games on their home court. … Saint Mary's is the fourth of five nonconference games against MIAC opponents. The Vikings have already faced St. Olaf (L, 86-64), Gustavus (L, 80-63) and Bethel (L, 75-63), and square off against St. Thomas on Saturday. … Saturday's loss to Covenant (Ga.) extended Bethany Lutheran's season-opening losing streak to six straight. … The Vikings scored a season-high 76 points against Covenant (Ga.) Saturday, but surrendered more than 90 points for the second straight game. After giving up a season-high 96 points in a 96-64 loss to Central (Iowa) on Dec. 6, BLU allowed 94 points against Covenant (Ga.) a day later. … Jacob Wensmann scored a season-high 29 points — including a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line — and added 16 rebounds in the Vikings' loss to the Scots Saturday. … Wensmann's 29-point effort marked the second time this season the Vikings boasted a player scoring more than 20 points — Mitchell Hopkins finished with 24 points against Bethel on Nov. 26. … Wensmann enters Wednesday's game against Saint Mary's boasting a team-best 16.0 ppg scoring average. … Wensmann, who has scored in double figures in five of the team's six games, is the only Viking averaging in double figures. … Wensmann also leads the team in rebounding (48, 8.0 rpg), while Darin Haugh and Luke Roddy are the team's assist leaders with 18 and 16 helpers, respectively. … As a team, Bethany Lutheran has drained 39 3-pointers, led by Haugh with eight, and Wensmann and Roddy with seven each. … The Vikings have been outscored 507-402, including 244-184 in the game's first 20 minutes.