By EMILY LOOF
Saint Mary's Sports Information Intern
 
WINONA, Minn. — After two straight nail-biting, heartbreakers at home, the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's basketball team entered their matchup against Macalester Saturday looking to get over the hump.
 
Coming into Saturday's game, the Cardinals and the Scots had identical records—0-8 in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic play and 1-12 overall—and the Cardinals were looking to gain an edge on the Scots in the MIAC standings.
 
However, the Scots—who were seeking their first road win of the season—found their stride within the game's opening 10 minutes and never looked back, dealing the Cardinals a 116-87 MIAC setback at Saint Mary's Gym.
 
The game's opening minutes saw high intensity, back-and-forth play, with the Cardinals taking an early 7-2 lead—and both teams were already in the bonus after surrendering seven fouls apiece less than halfway through the game's opening 20 minutes. The teams were deadlocked at 10 points apiece with 17:55 remaining—and the Cardinals had already forced nine Scots' turnovers.
 
But Macalester head coach Tim Whittle took a full court-press, win-by-committee strategy, subbing out his entire lineup every few minutes. And the strategy worked, as the Scots began to pull away, never allowing the Cardinals to draw closer than five after the 10-minute mark.
 
Wyatt Ferm led the Scots' first-half offensive onslaught, knocking down 17 first-half points, as Macalester headed into the locker room at the half boasting a commanding 62-42 advantage.
 
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the second half looked eerily similar to the first, with the Scots sustaining their full-court press. The Cardinals kept fighting, eventually drawing within 13 off a 3-pointer by Kareem Anthony-Bello (Chicago, Ill.).
 
But the Scots' firepower proved to be too much for the Cardinals, as Macalester passed the 100-point threshold with over six minutes left of play in cruising to its first conference win of the season.
 
The Cardinals went 47.8 percent from the field (33-for069), while the Scots were 58.7 percent (44-for-75)—with 11 of those 44 baskets being 3-pointers. The Cardinals were 8-for-15 from behind the arc.
 
Ferm posted an impressive 27 points for the Scots, followed closely by Jackson Henningfield, who nabbed 25.
 
Jakob Bailey (Cameron, Wis.) led the way for the Cardinals with 16 points, while James Cullen (Western Springs, Ill.) posted 14, and David Lindstrand (Lakeville, Minn.) and Brady Stevens (St. James, Minn.) posted 12 apiece.
 
The Cardinals continue MIAC play on Wednesday, as they travel to Northfield, Minn., for a 7 p.m. matchup against Carleton at West Gym.