WINONA, Minn. – It was an electric home opener for the Saint Mary's men's basketball team as they faced non-conference opponent Martin Luther on Tuesday night. The Cardinals defeated the Knights 92-83 in an overtime thriller.
 
The Cardinals jumped out to an early 17-10 lead shooting three for four from the three-point arch. Khai Branham drained two early three's with eight of the 17 points. Senior Jabari Sawyer nailed the third three.
 
Saint Mary's held onto the lead and their shooting spree as Bailey McDonald added a three. The Cardinals were energetic after Sawyer Markham created a steal, Bailey McDonald getting an offense rebound and dishing a pass to Jackson Harvey. They were all connecting with under ten minutes remaining in the first half.
 
The teams traded buckets to finish out the half as they both recorded 12 more points to their teams total. The team, still energetic, was in hire spirits after a McDonald steal with two seconds to go got him a breakaway layup to put his team ahead at the half, 42-36.
 
The Knights created energy of their own as they knocked down six of their first eight shots to earn their first lead of the game, 51-49. Within the next five minutes, the Knights went on a 17-4 run to take their largest lead of eight, 68-56, as the Cardinals only points were off two McDonald free throws and two free throws from Jemari Moore.
 
That drought was broken after Branham nailed his fourth three of the game and two Cardinals Markham and Sawyer, battling for two steals allowing a breakaway layup for Sawyer and a fast break three pointer from McDonald to get the team within four, 68-64.
 
The Cardinals used their scrappiness to their advantage as they created four turnovers within the last three minutes of regular time. With those extra possessions, Senior Owen Ziegler drilled his fourth three of the night and Branham made his fifth to get the Cardinals even with the Knights at 77.
 
With a final possession for the Knights, the Cardinals played lock down defense and did not allow a shot attempt for the win and sent the game into overtime for the first time this season.
 
It was a slow overtime start as neither team scored within the first two minutes of the five-minute overtime action. That was until Ziegler notched a go-ahead three assisted by Markham. The Knights countered. You know who else countered back? Ziegler. He nailed his sixth three of the game to take the lead back.
 
The Knights had no choice but to foul the Cardinals and take the chance of them missing their free throws. The Cardinals went five for six from the charity stripe to end the game on top in a 92-83 home victory.
 
Branham and Ziegler led the way for the Cardinals with 23 points and both shooting above (.500) percent from the floor.
 
The Cardinals get to do it all again at home on Thursday, November 14^th at 7 p.m. taking on Bethany Lutheran.