COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's basketball team returns to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Saturday, as the Cardinals head to Sexton Arena for a 3 p.m. showdown with Saint John's.
 
The Matchup:
• Saint Mary's Cardinals (2-2 MIAC | 4-4 Overall) at Saint John's Johnnies (3-1 MIAC | 8-1 Overall)
 
GameDay Live On The Web:
• Live Stats * Live Video
 
Last Action:
• Saint Mary's: The Cardinals have been off since Dec. 19, when they closed out the 2015 portion of their second with an 84-72 setback at the hands of Simpson at the Saint Mary's Gym | Recap  
• Saint John's: The Johnnies came up on the short end of an 88-54 decision in an exhibition game against Concordia-St. Paul Wednesday at Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul, Minn. | Recap

Saint Mary's vs. Saint John's—A Year Ago:
• January 14, 2015 * Collegeville, Minn.: Will Swiggum (St. Charles, Minn.) carried the hot hand for Saint Mary's, as the Cardinal junior poured in a team-high 22 points—one point shy of his season high. Swiggum's individual effort, however, was not enough to carry the Cardinals, as Saint John's—sparked by a 26-7 second-half run—pulled way to hand Saint Mary's a 93-74 setback at Sexton Arena | Recap
• February 11, 2015 * Winona, Minn.: Connor Kaiser (Rockland, Wis.) was red-hot for the Cardinals, as the freshman poured in a team-best 19 points—including a perfect 4-for-4 showing from the 3-point line and an unblemished 3-for-3 effort from the free throw line. But good as Kaiser was, Saint John's Mitchell Kuck was even better. Kuck scored a game-high 25 points—including 12 points in just six minutes in the second half—leading the Johnnies to a 94-70 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win over the Cardinals at the Saint Mary's Gym | Recap
 
Up Next:
• Saint Mary's: The Cardinals are back in action next Saturday, traveling to St. Olaf's Skoglund Center in Northfield, Minn., for a 1 p.m. conference battle with the Oles.
• Saint John's: The Johnnies hit the road on Wednesday, traveling to Leonard Center in St. Paul, Minn., for a 7 p.m. MIAC matchup against Macalester.
 
Scouting The Saint Mary's Cardinals:
2015-16 Roster | 2015-16 Statistics | 2015-16 Schedule
• After four consecutive home games, Saturday's showdown at Saint John's is the first of three straight road contests for the Cardinals, who do not return to the Saint Mary's Gym until Jan. 13, when they entertain Concordia. … Saint Mary's Dec. 16 loss to Carleton snapped the Cardinals' two-game winning streak. It was also Saint Mary's first loss on its home court this season, dropping the Cardinals to 3-1 at the Saint Mary's Gym. … Saint Mary's 68-65 victory over Augsburg on Dec. 9 was its fourth of the season—equaling the win total from a year ago. … Saint Mary's has scored 80 or more points in three of its four wins this season—including a season-high 85-point effort in its 85-70 win over Macalester on Dec. 5. … The Cardinals' 85 points vs. the Scots marked the highest offensive output since Saint Mary's tossed in 87 in an 87-80 victory over Macalester on Dec. 4, 2010. … Quashingm Smith-Pugh (St. Paul, Minn.) scored a team-high 18 points in the Cardinals' loss to Simpson on Dec. 19. It was the fifth time this season the freshman has scored in double figures and was one point shy of his career-best 19-point effort against Macalester on Dec. 5. … The Cardinals have now had a different player lead them in scoring in each of their last four games. … Kevin Gleason (Minneapolis, Minn.) scored a game- and career-high 20 points against Augsburg on Dec. 9. It was the Cardinals' third 20-point effort of the season—Kaiser owns the other two. … Kaiser scored a career high-tying 22 points against Martin Luther on Nov. 24. Kaiser's 22-point showing vs. the Knights on Nov. 24 marked the second time in as many meetings with Martin Luther that the Cardinal senior has scored a career-best 22 points. … Kaiser and Smith-Pugh head into Saturday's conference game against Saint John's averaging in double figures at 13.8 ppg and 11.8 ppg, respectively. … Will Swiggum (St. Charles, Minn.) scored 10 points and hauled in a career-high 16 rebounds against Martin Luther on Nov. 24 for his first double-double of the season and ninth of his collegiate career. … Swiggum has hauled in a team-leading 68 rebounds (8.5 rpg) through the team's first eight games—including 11 vs. Simpson on Dec. 19, 13 against Crossroads on Nov. 13 and 16 vs. Martin Luther on Nov. 24. … All 11 of Swiggum's rebounds against Simpson on Dec. 19 came on the defensive end. … Swiggum is averaging 8.0 ppg and owns six games of 20 or more points in his collegiate career. … The Cardinals knocked down a season-high 10 3-pointers against Augsburg on Dec. 9—including seven in the second half. Saint Mary's made a season-high 10 treys twice a year ago. … Kaiser—who finished with a season-high four 3-pointers against Augsburg on Dec. 9—has recorded a team-leading 13 3-pointers, two more than Gleason. … Smith-Pugh leads the team in assists with 21 and Mark Schumacher (Perham, Minn.) is the team-leader in blocks with 10. … Saint Mary's drained a season-high 22 free throws against Macalester on Dec. 5. … Saint Mary's is averaging 70.1 ppg  and has outscored its first eight opponents 301-282 in the game's second half. … Saint Mary's boasted a season-high five players in double figures against Macalester on Dec. 5. … The Cardinals snapped an 11-game losing streak against the Auggies with their Dec. 9 68-65 victory.
 
Scouting The Saint John's Johnnies:
2015-16 Roster | 2015-16 Statistics | 2015-16 Schedule
• The Johnnies head into Saturday's game against Saint Mary's riding their second four-game winning streak of the season. … SJU opened the year with four consecutive wins, before falling to Carleton 70-64 on Dec. 2.  …Seven of the Johnnies' first nine games have been played on the road—SJU is a perfect 2-0 on its home court this season. … Alex Schmitt scored a season-high 27 points for the Johnnies in their overtime win over Bethel on Dec. 12, while Mitchell Kuck chipped in 20 points. … Kuck heads into Saturday's game against Saint Mary's needing 15 points to reach 1,000 for his career, while Schmitt is just 23 points away. … Tyler Weiss recorded his third double-double of the season against Bethel on Dec. 12, tossing in 12 points and adding 10 rebounds. … SJU heads into Saturday's matchup against Saint Mary's boasting four players who are averaging in double figures—led by Schmitt (18.2 ppg) and Kuck (17.0 ppg). Weiss (12.3 ppg) and Joe Risinger (11.3 ppg) are the other two. … Schmitt or Kuck has led the Johnnies' in scoring in eight of their nine games. … Saint John's has had a player score 20 or more points seven times this season—including a season-best 32-point effort by Kuck against George Fox on Nov. 28. … Weiss is the team-leader in rebounds with 78 (8.7 rpg), while Kuck has amassed a team-best 48 assists and 13 steals. … SJU has drained 79 3-pointers through nine games and boast four players—Schmitt (26), Kuck (19), Patrick Strom (19), and David Stokman (11)—with 10 or more treys. … As a team, the Johnnies are averaging 78.9 ppg, and have scored 80 or more points five times—including a season-high 89-point effort in their overtime win over previously unbeaten Bethel on Dec. 12. … SJU has outscored its opponents 333-310 in the first half, and 377-336 after the break.