WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary's University men's basketball coach Bob Biebel has been desperately searching for his team to put together a complete-game effort.

In each of the Cardinals' last three games, a second-half meltdown as been the different between savoring a three-game winning streak and the reality of their current three-game losing streak.

Saturday afternoon against Bethel, the Cardinals finally gave Biebel that complete 40-minute effort.

Problem was, after 40 minutes, the game was tied — and in the five-minute overtime session, the Royals outscored the Cardinals 9-5 en route to a 76-72 win.

"The energy and intensity was the best we've had in a long time," said Biebel. "We defended great, which also gave us confidence offensively."

Ryan Wilt (Naperville, Ill.) led the Cardinals' offensive and defensive charge, scoring a team-high 19 points and added 14 rebounds. Brett Johnson (Onalaska, Wis.), honored before the game as one of the team's three seniors, chipped in 18 points, while Adam Kraemer (Oshkosh, Wis.) tallied 14.

Andy Gilbert scored a game-high 28 points to pace three Bethel players in double figures.

As has been the Cardinals' forte of late, SMU jumped out to a four-point, 40-36 lead at the half, but Bethel rallied, holding a 31-27 scoring edge in the second half to force the OT session — the Cardinals' first overtime game of the season.

In the extra session, Brett Repasky connected on four consecutive free throws to help seal the win.

"We had a tremendous effort today," Biebel said. "We fought and we battled, we just didn't have the answers in the overtime period."