Game Summary / GameDay Preview

WINONA, Minn. — It has been an Achilles heel for the Saint Mary's University men's basketball team all year long, and on Wednesday night, it struck again.

The Cardinals once again played a great first half of basketball, but couldn't hold off Saint John's in the second half, falling to the Johnnies 74-67 in an MIAC game at the SMU Gym.

"We did a good job defensively, but our shot selection to begin the second half wasn't very good," SMU coach Todd Landrum said. "I thought later in the half we got the ball inside and executed well, but we just didn't finish."

SMU (4-15 MIAC, 9-15 overall) shot 59 percent from the field and took a 38-31 lead into the break, but couldn't equal their torrid shooting from the field over the game's final 20 minutes.

The Johnnies outscored SMU 13-6 in the first six minutes of the second half, and led by seven, 64-57, with just under four minutes remaining in regulation.

That's when Lukas Holland (La Crosse, Wis.) cut the deficit to four with an NBA-range 3-pointer. After a Johnnies' turnover, Chris Palmer (Faribault, Minn.) got an up-and-under layup to fall, cutting Saint John's lead to two, 64-62.

The Cardinals were able to get a stop on the defensive end, but Holland's pull-up jumper to tie the game would not fall, and Saint John's Nermin Hujdurovic was able to corral the rebound.

SJU then hit 8 of 9 free throws down the stretch to seal the game.

Holland (16 points), Will Wright (Chicago, Ill. / 13 points), and Palmer (10 points) each scored in double figures for the Cardinals, who were playing their final home game of the season.

Andy Burns led Saint John's with 21 points, including five 3-pointers, while Aaron Burtzel chipped in 17 points and 10 rebounds.

The Cardinals close out their regular-season on Saturday, traveling to St. Peter, Minn., for a 3 p.m. MIAC contest against Gustavus.