Box Score  | GameDay Preview

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — It was a hot-and-cold afternoon at the Robertson Center Saturday.

Unfortunately for the Saint Mary's University men's basketball team it was host Bethel that enjoyed the hot half of that equation.

The Royals shot a sizzling 58 percent from the field, knocking down 34 of 59 field goals — including nine 3-pointers — as Bethel handed SMU a 94-46 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback.

Bethel hit its first four field goal attempts to jump out to a quick 8-0 lead — and the Royals never looked back, pushing their advantage to 49-18 by halftime, before outscoring the Cardinals 45-28 over the game's final 20 minutes.

The Royals were virtually unstoppable in the game's opening 20 minutes, shooting 65 percent from the field (20-for-31) with three 3-pointers, while adding a 6-for-9 effort from the free throw line.

And Bethel did not cool off much in the second half, adding a 14-for-28 effort from the field — including six more 3-pointers and an 11 of 14 showing from the free throw line.

On the flip side, SMU could not find its shooting touch, hitting on just 29 percent of its field goals (19-for-65). Mark Schumacher (Perham, Minn.), Michael Burfeind (Lewiston, Minn.) and Brian Thomas (Bellwood, Ill.) led the way for the Cardinals, scoring eight points each, while Joe Murray (Park Ridge, Ill.) chipped in seven points and a team-best eight rebounds.

The Cardinals take to the road for the final time on Wednesday, traveling to Collegeville, Minn., for a 7:30 p.m. contest against Saint John's. SMU then closes out its season on Saturday, hosting Augsburg in a 3 p.m. MIAC game.