Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Pat Freeman (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) scored a game-high 27 points and Michael Burfeind (Lewiston, Minn.) chipped in 18, as the Saint Mary's University men's basketball team dropped a 115-75 decision in the team's exhibition game against NCAA Division II Concordia-St. Paul Wednesday.

The Cardinals — whose starting lineup included one senior (Freeman), two juniors and a pair of freshmen — shot 53 percent (17-for-32) from the field in the opening half, but found themselves staring at a 15-point, 56-41 halftime deficit. The Golden Bears pulled away in the second half, outscoring SMU 59-34 over the game's final 20 minutes.

Freeman went 9-for-13 from the field — including a stellar 6-for-7 showing from behind the 3-point line — en route to his 27 points, while Burfeind was 6-for-20 from the field and 4 of 7 from the free-throw line in tallying his 18 points. Tim Kunkel (Northfield, Ill.) pulled down a team-best six rebounds and Evan Pederson (La Crosse, Wis.) dished out seven assists and had two steals.

Kenny Olafeso netted 23 points and Terez Van Pelt scored 22 to lead six Golden Bears in double figures for Concordia-St. Paul, which was playing its second exhibition game of the season, having beating Saint John's 76-51 last Saturday.

The Cardinals officially kick off their season on Nov. 18-19, traveling to Irving, Texas, to take part in the University of Dallas Tip-Off Classic. SMU squares off against host University of Dallas on Nov. 18, then faces Austin College on Nov. 19.