COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's basketball team put four players in double figures—led by Quashingm Smith-Pugh (St. Paul, Minn.) with 12—but the Cardinal offense could not match the firepower of Saint John's.
 
The Johnnies shot 62 percent from the field—including draining 20 of 26 field goals in scoring 49 first-half points—as the Johnnies dealt the Cardinals a 94-74 Minnesota Intercollegiate setback at Sexton Arena.
 
The Cardinals were good in the game's opening 20 minutes, going 13-for-30 with four 3-pointers, while scoring 36 points. The Johnnies, however, were even better, erupting for 49 first-half points in taking a commanding 49-36 advantage into the locker room at the break.
 
And the Johnnies' torrid shooting continued early in the second half, as SJU scored the first nine points of the half—and 20 of the first 24—and the Cardinals never recovered, as SJU held a 45-38 scoring edge after the break to seal the win.
 
Along with Smith-Pugh's team-high 12 points, the Cardinals also got 10 points from Aaron Romportl (Stillwater, Minn.), Wylie Ferron (Waconia, Minn.), and Liam Gorman (Orland Park, Ill.).
 
SJU also put four players in double figures, led by Tyler Weiss with 21. David Stokman chipped in 15, with Garrett Goetz and Patrick Strom adding 12 and 11 points, respectively.
 
The Cardinals (3-5 MIAC, 5-7 overall) are back on the road on Monday, heading to St. Olaf's Skoglund Center for a 7 p.m. MIAC showdown with the Oles.