Box Score  | GameDay Preview

ST. PETER, Minn. — Will Swiggum (St. Charles, Minn.) poured in a season-high 23 points, but the Saint Mary's University men's basketball team could not overcome a 14-point, 39-25 halftime deficit in falling to Gustavus 79-59 in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon.

Swiggum, whose 23-point effort fell one point short of his career high, knocked down 8 of 14 field goals — including one 3-pointer — and was 6-for-7 from the free throw line. Evan Pederson (Onalaska, Wis.) also finished in double figures for the Cardinals, tossing in 10 points, while adding three assists and a steal.

Gustavus jumped out to a 6-0 lead and slowly built its lead to as many as 16, before settling for a 14-point, 39-25 advantage. The Gusties continued to pull away in the second half, riding 56 percent shooting (14-for-25) over the game's final 20 minutes to seal the win.

The Cardinals shot 40 percent from the field (21-for-53) with three 3-pointers, but the Gusties were even better, hitting on 31 of 56 field goals (55 percent) and were 14-for-20 from the free throw line.

Sergio Najera scored a team-high 15 points for the Gusties, while Gary Cooper (12 points), Brody Ziegler (11) and Peter Kruze (11) also scored in double figures for GAC.

The Cardinals are back in action on Wednesday, when they travel to St. Paul, Minn., for a 7:30 p.m. conference game against Hamline at Hutton Arena.