Game Summary / Photo Gallery / Video Highlights / GameDay Preview

WINONA, Minn. — It was the second game in a row where the Saint Mary's University men's basketball team shot under 40 percent.

It was the second game a team went on a run of more than 10 points to take control.

And, unfortunately for the Cardinals, it was the second game in a row where SMU paid for those mistakes.

St. Olaf walked in to SMU Gym on Wednesday mired in a four-game losing streak, and walked out with a 65-55 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over the Cardinals.

"We're just not a very good team right now, and it's my job to right the ship," SMU coach Todd Landrum said. "We didn't come out ready to play tonight."

It was midway through the first half when the Oles (7-4, 2-4) began to take control. Fueled by a 15-2 run, St. Olaf raced out to an 11-point, 33-22 lead — and went into the break leading by seven, 33-26.

SMU (8-3 overall, 3-3 MIAC) was able to battle back and cut the lead to six on a Lukas Holland (La Crosse, Wis.) 3-pointer, but the Oles offensive attack, led by Stu Neville and Bobby Fong — mixed with the Cardinals' offensive woes — was too much for the Cardinals to overcome.

The Oles built the lead as big as 15 and seemed to be on cruise control the last eight minutes of the game.

"You don't get good shots when you don't move the ball and don't move the people," Landrum said. "Good teams will lock onto you and that's what (St. Olaf) did.

"We didn't make the extra pass tonight, and took some bad shots."

The lone bright spot for Saint Mary's once again was the play of Chris Palmer (Faribault, Minn.)

The sensational sophomore recorded another double-double, finishing with 16 points — on 7 of 12 shooting from the field — and 13 rebounds.

"We will not forget this," said Landrum, whose team begins a stretch of four straight road games on Saturday, when they travel to Carleton for a 3 p.m. conference contest. "We need to remember the taste in our mouths from the losses, not the celebrations after the wins."