WINONA, Minn. – Senior Austin Korba and junior Troy Diggins Jr.combined for 37 points and led the St. Olaf College men's basketball team to a 75-67 victory over Saint Mary's (Minn.) in their Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) opener Wednesday evening at Saint Mary's Gym.

After Saint Mary's (3-2, 0-1 MIAC) took a 49-48 lead in the second half with a three-pointer form Kevin Gleason, St. Olaf (2-4, 1-0 MIAC) responded with an 11-0 run starting at 9:32, while shooting 6-of-8 from the free throw line to secure the victory.

Diggins shot 8-of-14 from the floor and added eight rebounds and four assists and senior Frank Delaney posted 11 points, seven rebounds and two assists.  Sophomore Dominic Bledsoe posted 11 points, shooting 7-of-8 from the free throw line, and collected three assists.

St. Olaf shot 58.3 percent in the first half and sank five three-pointers as they trailed for only 17 seconds in the half, despite Saint Mary's pulling down eight offensive boards resulting in eight second chance points.

Korba hit back-to-back three-pointers to give the Oles a 20-14 lead with 10:57 remaining in the first half after Saint Mary's climbed within one earlier at 13-12 with a jumper from Caden Freetly.

Nathan Hendler sank a three-pointer, followed by a Hendler layup to give St. Olaf a seven-point lead. A deep three-pointer from Eli Cave brought the Cardinals within six at 30-24 with just under three minutes remaining in the first half.

St. Olaf scored on its first three possessions of the second half, taking a nine-point advantage at 42-33, after Beck found Delaney for a jumper.

Saint Mary's went on a 13-3 run and took its first lead of the game at 46-45 with a basket from Freetly. At 9:32 a free throw from Travis Fauchald tied the score at 49-49 as St. Olaf started its 11-0 run and took a 10-point lead. The Cardinals missed six shots, including five three-point attempts during the Oles' run.

A layup by Diggins tied the Oles largest lead of the game of 13 with 1:14 remaining in the contest.  

After a Cave three-pointer, Saint's Mary's came within six at 73-67 with 19 seconds remaining, but two free throws from Bledsoe secured the victory and accounted for St. Olaf's final points.

The Oles recorded 19 assists on 25 field goals, while shooting 52.1 percent from the floor, despite the Cardinals making 12 three-pointers compared to six from St. Olaf. 

The Oles posted its 11th straight victory over the Cardinals as they hold a 61-35 record against Saint Mary's.

St. Olaf is back to action Saturday, Dec. 1 as they travel to ST. Paul, Minn. for a MIAC contest against Macalester beginning at 3 p.m.