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WINONA, Minn. — Saturday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game against St. Olaf was another new chapter for the Saint Mary's University men's basketball team.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the new chapter had an eerily similar beginning — and end.

The Cardinals — who surrendered the game's first nine points in a 68-57 conference loss at Saint John's on Saturday — gave up the opening eight points against the Oles Monday and couldn't make up the deficit in falling to St. Olaf 83-53 at the SMU Gym.

"We have been competing at a high level for a long period of time — so I was concerned that there might be a little let down after Saturday," said SMU coach Jamison Rusthoven. "That third game of a four-game stretch can be tough. 

"The great thing is that we get another opportunity to finish on a high note on Wednesday (against Bethany Lutheran)."

Despite staring at that early, 8-0 deficit, the Cardinals would not be rattled, using an 8-2 run of their own — capped by a Trent Vix (Rushford, Minn.) 3-pointer — to cut the Ole lead to two, 10-8, with 14:40 remaining in the opening half.

From there, however, the Oles took control, building the lead to as many as 14 three times, before closing on a 6-0 run to take their biggest advantage of the half, 35-17, into the locker room at the break.

After struggling to shoot just 20 percent from the field in the game's opening 20 minutes, the Cardinals more than doubled their offensive output in the second half, shooting 48 percent from the field (12-for-25) — including 4 of 9 from behind the 3-point line — en route to their 36-point output.

As good as the Cardinals were from the field in the second half, the Oles were even better, scoring 48 points over the final 20 minutes in pulling away for their second win in three conference contests.

Aaron Romportl (Stillwater, Minn.) scored a team-high 12 points for the Cardinals, as the freshman shot 4 of 6 from the field with a pair of 3-pointers, while Evan Pederson (Onalaska, Wis.) and Will Swiggum (St. Charles, Minn.) each chipped in 10 points.

Connor Gunderson netted a game-high 18 points and Charlie Asleen and Sterling Nielsen chipped in 14 and 12 points, respectively, for the Oles.

"The thing about a young team is the ups and downs," Rusthoven said. "We are trying to stay on an even keel — but tonight was tough. This might be the best team Coach Koz has ever had. 

"But with that said, our guys will bounce back and be ready — I have no doubt about that."

The Cardinals step out of conference play on Wednesday, as SMU hosts Bethany Lutheran in a 7 p.m. contest at the SMU Gym.