WINONA, Minn. - Conference play continued Wednesday night for the Saint Mary's men's basketball team as they hosted the No. 21 ranked Johnnies of Saint John's University. The Cardinals, not at full strength, would fall at home, 75-61.
 
The Cardinals got off to a slow start only scoring four points in the first five minutes of action, two layups by Bailey McDonald and Jabari Sawyer. However, a three-pointer by Jackson Harvey would cut the Johnnies lead to three with 13 minutes left in the half, 12-9.
 
The Johnnies tried to pull away but a driving layup from Sawyer Markham would keep the lead within one point for the Cardinals. Markham drove to the basket for a second layup to put the Cardinals up 16-17 for their first lead of the game.
 
The Johnnies would swing momentum back their way with a few Cardinal turnovers and making the score 22-17, but a clutch three-pointer from Sawyer from Jonah Ogunsanya would keep the lead within reach. After a three from Owen Ziegler and two free throws from Harvey, the Cardinals would take the lead once again but the Johnnies hit two back-to-back threes to end the half in back-and-fourth action, 33-29.
 
Coming out of the break, Saint John's had the hot hand with three of their first four baskets were three-pointers, making the score 44-36 with 16 and a half minutes left in the game.
 
After a long cold stretch, Markham hit a three to try and get something going but the Johnnies immediately answered with one of their own. Harvey would then hit two back-to-back layups to cut the lead down to 16.
 
With 10 minutes left in the game, Sawyer would hit a nice pull-up jumper to bring his point total to 18. A minute later Harvey would hit two more free-throws to get him into double-digit points. Markham would get a layup to go in despite the foul and hit the and-1, bringing his total to 12.
 
The Johnnies would finish the game out, not giving the Cardinals any room to breathe, ending the game 75-61.
 
Sawyer led the team in points with 18 and Markham behind him with 14. Sawyer, Ziegler, Milan Adamovic and Khai Branham all tied with 4 rebounds to lead the team. Sawyer had 5 steals, tying his career high.
 
The Cardinals look to take an extended holiday break and get healthy before heading to California for a non-conference match up on Monday, December 30^th at 5 p.m. EST time.