SAINT MARY’S CARDINALS

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2023-24: 7-12 MIAC, 8-16 Overall

CARLETON KNIGHTS

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2023-24: 13-6 MIAC, 16-8 Overall

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SMU-CARLETON * LAST MEETING:

Jan. 13, 2024 * Winona, MN

L, 75-73 * Series History

SAINT MARY’S * LAST ACTION:

Feb. 14, 2024 * Winona, MN

Gustavus * L, 72-63

CARLETON * LAST ACTION:

Feb. 14, 2024 * Northfield, MN

Macalester * W, 76-74

SAINT MARY’S * UP NEXT:

End of the Regular Season

CARLETON * UP NEXT: 

MIAC Playoffs * TBD

SAINT MARY’S SCOUTING REPORT:

• FOR THE RECORD: The Cardinals enter their regular-season finale at Carleton sitting at 8-15 overall, while owning a 7-11 mark in conference play.

• LAST TIME OUT: Gustavus jumped out to a 20-point halftime advantage, and despite a sizzling 62.5 percent shooting from the field over the game’s final 20 minutes, the Cardinals could not make up the deficit, falling to the Gusties 72-63 Wednesday at the SMU Gym.

• HOME FINALE Wednesday’s game against Gustavus was the final home game for the Cardinals, who will close out the 2023-24 season at Carleton on Saturday. … Saint Mary’s finished the year 6-8 on its home court, while sporting a 2-8 record away from the Saint Mary’s Gym.

• SPEED BUMP: The Cardinals’ nine-point loss to Gustavus on Wednesday snapped their season-high three-game winning streak. Prior to the loss to GAC, SMU had rattled off wins over Macalester (72-69), St. Scholastica (71-65), and Augsburg (89-80). … SMU’s last four games have all been decided by nine points or less.

• STREAKING: The Cardinals’ thrilling 74-72, last-second win over St. Olaf on Jan. 20 put an end to their three-game losing streak. … SMU’s 83-56 victory over Macalester in their first meeting on Jan. 6 also snapped a three-game SMU losing streak, while the Cardinals’ 12-point, 92-80 win over St. Scholastica on Dec. 6 ended their season-high four-game losing streak. … SMU’s sweep-clinching win over St. Scholastica in their second meeting on Feb. 5 was its sixth straight win against the Saints and moved the Cardinals to 8-1 against CSS all-time.

• SATURDAY SUCCESS: With their 72-69 win over Macalester on Feb. 3, the Cardinals have gone 4-1 in their last five Saturday games, including back-to-back-to-back victories against St. Olaf (74-72), Bethel (85-76), and Macalester (72-69) in their last three Saturday contests. 

• BIG HALF: Saint Mary’s has recorded 50 or more points in a half twice this season, pouring in 51 first-half points against Augsburg on Jan. 7, while netting a season-high 52 points against Bethel on Jan. 27. … Saint Mary’s 52-point second half against Bethel on Jan. 27 were the most in a half since scoring 55 in the first half of a 102-68 win over Finlandia on Jan. 2, 2023. … SMU has scored 40 or more points in a half seven times — achieving the feat three times in the first half and four times in the second.

• CARRYING THE OFFENSIVE LOAD: The Cardinals head into their matchup against Carleton boasting three players who are averaging in double figures in scoring. Cameron Mallory (Joliet, Ill.) leads the charge with a 15.5 ppg scoring averaging, just percentage points in front of Breyton Buysman (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), who is second at 15.3 ppg. Jabari Sawyer (Chicago, Ill.) is also averaging in double digits at 10.1 ppg, with Owen Ziegler (Mount Horeb, Wis.) close behind at 9.5 ppg. … Mallory or Buysman has led or shared the team lead in scoring in 19 of SMU’s 24 games, while Sawyer has led the team three times.

• HITTING DOUBLE FIGURES: Mallory has scored in double figures in 17 of SMU’s 24 contests. He has set a single-game career high four times this season — netting a then-career-high 20 points against UW-Platteville on Nov. 10, bettering that by three with a 23-point showing against UW-River Falls on Nov. 18. He improved on that mark with 25 points against St. Scholastica on Dec. 6, before delivering his new career-best with 27 points against Macalester on Jan. 6. … Buysman has scored in double figures 18 times this season — including a career-high 32-point effort against Augsburg last Wednesday.

• GREATER THAN 30: Ziegler and Buysman both eclipsed the 30-point mark in SMU’s 89-80 win over Augsburg on Feb. 7, each scoring 32 points. … The 32 points were a career-high by Buysman and matched Ziegler’s career-best — and marked the first time SMU has had two players score 30+ points in the same game since Bill Skemp scored 41 and Ken Janssen added 38 against UM-Duluth during the 1954-55 season.

• GREATER THAN 20: Saint Mary’s has had a player score 20 or more points in a game 19 times this season — including 32-point performances from both Ziegler and Buysman against Augsburg on Feb. 7. … Mallory has reached the 20-point mark 10 times this season, while Buysman has netted 20+ points six times. Sawyer (2) and Ziegler (1) have accounted for SMU’s other three 20+ efforts.

• GREATER THAN 20 x 2: With Mallory’s 25 points and Buysman’s 24 against St. Scholastica on Dec. 6, the Cardinals recorded their second game with two players reaching the 20-point mark in the same game. The duo also achieved the feat against St. Olaf on Dec. 2. … SMU had two 20+ scorers in the same game six times last season — including a program record three players with 20 or more points in the same game against Augsburg on Jan. 16, 2023.

• CAREER SCORING NIGHTS: Saint Mary’s has had a player post a career high of 10 or more points in a game five times this season — Buysman (32), Mallory (27), Sawyer (23), Khai Branham (Bemidji, Minn. / 14), Jemari Moore (Broadview, Ill. / 14) and Bruce Lockwood (Shakopee, Minn. / 14). … Ziegler’s 32 points against Augsburg on Feb.7 matched his career-high.

• SPREADING THE WEALTH: Saint Mary’s put five players in double figures against Saint John’s on Nov. 29 — Mallory (13 points), Sawyer (11), Lockwood (11), Buysman (10), and Moore (10). It was the first time SMU put five players in double figures in the same game since Jan. 15, 2022.

• ON THE GLASS: Saint Mary’s boasts four players with 80 or more rebounds through 24 games, led by Lockwood with a single-season career-high 138 (5.9 rpg). Buysman owns 126 boards (5.3 rpg), followed by Mallory (99, 4.1 rpg) and Sawyer (95, 4.0 rpg). … Lockwood and Buysman each pulled down 10 rebounds against St. Scholastica on Feb. 5. It marked the second straight game in which SMU has had two players with 10 rebounds in the same game — Lockwood and Khai Branham (Bemidji, Minn.) each had 10 boards against Macalester on Feb. 3. … Lockwood pulled down a season- and career-high 12 rebounds against Saint John’s on Jan. 17. …  Branham collected a career-high 10 rebounds in SMU’s win over Macalester on Feb. 3, and Buysman delivered a career-best 10 boards vs. St. Scholastica two days later.. … As a team, Saint Mary’s matched its season high with 42 rebounds against St. Scholastica on Feb. 3.

• DOUBLING UP: With his career-highs in points (14) and rebounds (12) against Saint John’s on Jan. 17, Lockwood collected his first collegiate double-double. … Branham posted career-highs in points (14) and rebounds (10) against Macalester on Feb.3 en route to his first collegiate double-double … Lockwood and Branham own SMU’s only two double-doubles this season.

• FEW FREE POINTS: The Cardinals attempted just two free throws — making both — in their 71-57 loss to Concordia on Dec. 4. It was the fewest FT made in a game since hitting 2 of 4 against St. Olaf on Feb. 9, 2015, while the two FT attempts were the fewest since Feb. 8, 2006, when SMU went 0-for-1 from the line against Hamline. 

• DEAD-EYE FROM THE LINE: With his 9-for-10 showing from the free throw line against St. Scholastica on Feb.3, Mallory has now drained a season-high nine free throws twice this season — having also gone 9-for-11 from the line against Carleton on Jan. 13. … Ziegler heads into Saturday’s finale having missed just one free throw in the last two seasons — going 20-for-20 a year ago, and 19-for-20 this season.

• GOING DEEP: Saint Mary’s has made 171 of 487 3-point attempts this season (35.1 %) — including a season-high 12 treys against UW-River Falls on Nov. 18. … Ziegler leads the team with 62 3s, followed by Buysman with 28, Branham with 25, and Mallory with 21. … Ziegler matched his own single-game program record with eight 3-pointers against Augsburg on Feb. 7 — including knocking down six in the first half. … The Cardinals have gotten at least one 3 from nine different players. … SMU’s season-high 12 3-pointers against UW-River Falls on Nov. 18 were just two treys shy of the program’s single-game record of 14, set against Finlandia a year ago.

• ALL-TIME LEADER: With the first of his four 3-pointers against Macalester on Jan. 6, Ziegler became the program’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made. Ziegler has now drained a program-record 191 3-pointers during his four-year career.

• LENDING A HAND: Sawyer and Ziegler lead the way for SMU with 79 and 68 assists, respectively. Buysman (36), Mallory (35), and Moore (25) have also dished out 20+ helpers. … Sawyer has delivered a season-high seven assists twice this season — against St. Olaf on Dec. 2 and vs. Augsburg on Feb. 7.

• FACING THE NATION’S BEST: Saint Mary’s has faced two teams that received recognition in the D3hoops.com Preseason Poll. UW-Platteville received votes in the opening poll, while UW-Whitewater — an NCAA Division III Final Four participant last season — was ranked No. 2. … SMU’s six-point win over then-No. 7 UW-La Crosse a year ago marked the first time in program history the Cardinals had beaten a team ranked in the Top 10 in the country. The win also snapped a six-game losing streak against the Eagles — dating back to a 65-50 triumph on Nov. 24, 1986.

• CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS: The Cardinals are shooting 44.9 percent from the field (646-for-1440), with 171 3-pointers, and are 212 of 302 (70.2 %) from the free throw line. … SMU is averaging 69.7 ppg, with its opponents scoring at a 77.2 ppg clip. … Saint Mary’s has scored 70 or more points 12 times — including four games of 80+ points. SMU netted a season-high 92 points against St. Scholastica on Dec. 6. On the flip side, Saint Mary’s has surrendered 80 or more points nine times, including allowing 90+ points on three occasions. … SMU’s 92-point effort in its 92-80 win over St. Scholastica on Dec. 6 were the most since netting a season-high 102 against Finlandia on Jan. 2, 2023.

CARLETON SCOUTING REPORT:

• FOR THE RECORD: Carleton heads into its regular-season finale against Saint Mary’s sporting a 16-8 overall record, including a 13-6 mark in conference play.

• LAST TIME OUT: The Knights put four players in double figures — including a team-high 16-point showing from Sam Koelling — and Alex Gibbens knocked down three clutch free throws late, as Carleton edged Macalester 76-74 Wednesday at West Gym in Northfield, Minn.

• POST-SEASON BOUND: With their two-point win over Macalester on Wednesday, the Knights locked up a top 3 finish in the MIAC regular season standings and an MIAC Playoff berth. A win over the Cardinals will give the Knights the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye, while a loss drops Carleton to the No. 3 seed, where they will host an MIAC quarterfinal game next Tuesday.

• HOME SWEET HOME: Saturday’s matchup against Saint Mary’s is the second straight home game to close out the regular season for the Knights, who are an impressive 9-2 on their home court, while sitting at 7-6 away from the friendly confines of West Gym.

• STREAKING: Carleton picked up its third straight victory Wednesday night, beating Macalester 76-74 in Northfield, Minn. The Knights head into their finale against Saint Mary’s having won six of their last seven — sandwiching a pair of three-game win streaks around an 82-81 loss to Augsburg on Feb. 5 — and nine of their last 11. … Along with their two three-game winning streaks, Carleton has also posted four consecutive wins this season — beating St. Olaf, Augsburg, St. Scholastica and Northwestern from Dec. 4 through Dec. 13.

• CARRYING THE OFFENSIVE LOAD: Carleton boasts three players who enter Saturday’s regular-season finale averaging in double figures in scoring, led by Luke Harris’s 20.1 ppg average. Matt Banovetz (18.6 ppg) and Sam Koelling (10.0 ppg) are also scoring 10 or more points per game this season. … Harris has scored 10 or more points in 23 of the team’s 24 games this season, including a pair of 30+ point efforts — both against Saint John’s. The junior netted 30 against the Johnnies on Jan. 24 and tallied a season-high 31 in the teams’ first meeting on Nov. 21. 

• CLEANING THE GLASS: Banovetz is the team’s rebound leader with 180 (7.5 rpg) and is one of four Knights who have reached the 100-rebound mark, being joined by Spencer Goetz (144, 6.0 rpg), Harris (135, 5.6 rpg), and Koelling (103, 4.3 rpg). … Banovetz has hauled in 10 or more rebounds five times — with all five resulting in double-doubles. … Banovetz delivered a season-best 16-rebound performance against Hamline on Jan. 3. … Goetz also owns one double-double this season, an 11-point, 11-rebound night against St. Olaf on Jan. 31.

• FROM BEYOND THE ARC: Carleton has knocked down 195 3-pointers, shooting 195-for-548 (35.6 ppg) from behind the arc. … Banovetz leads the team with 59 3s, followed by Alex Gibbens with 31, Chuck Sweat with 28, and Miles Frisch with 26. … Banovetz connected on a season-high six 3-pointers against Saint John’s on Jan. 24. … Carleton drained a single-game, season-high 16 triples against Bethel on Jan. 15.

• LENDING A HAND: Harris and Goetz have both surpassed the 80-assist mark this season, with Harris dishing out a team-high 84 helpers, four more than Goetz. … Carleton racked up a single-game season-high 24 assists against Augsburg on Feb. 5. … Goetz and Harris have both collected a season-best nine assists — Harris against Pomona-Pitzer on Nov. 24 and Goetz the following day…. As a team, Carleton has collected 351 assists, and has gotten at least one helper from 10 of the team’s 12 players.

• CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS:The Knights are shooting 46.2 percent (677-for-1464) from the field, with 195 3-pointers, while hitting on 312 of 412 (75.7 %) from the free throw line. … Carleton is averaging 77.5 ppg, with their opponents scoring at a 73.5 ppg clip. … Carleton has scored at least 84 points on five separate occasions, including 90+ points three times. The Knights poured in a season-high 98 points in routing Bethel 98-74 on Jan. 15. … Carleton has surrendered 80 or more points five times, including a 102-point performance by Saint John’s in a 102-90 SJU win on Jan. 24. … Carleton has played one overtime game this season, beating St. Olaf 70-66 in double OT on Feb. 4.