WINONA, Minn. — After his first six games at the helm, Saint Mary's University men's basketball coach Mark Lovelace still has plenty of questions — it's the answers that seem to be in short supply.

When your team is stuck in the midst of a season-opening six-game losing streak, it's pretty tough to find the silver lining amidst the doom and gloom.

That, however, isn't the case for Cardinals.

It may feel like there's a never-ending dark cloud hanging over the Cardinals' every move, but in reality, there are more and more little specks of sunshine breaking through with each game.

Take Wednesday's 58-51 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference loss to St. Thomas, for example.

For the second straight game, it was the Cardinals who had the upper hand in the first half, battling the Tommies to a 24-24 halftime tie — despite shooting just 34.6 percent from the field.

And for the third straight game, the Cardinals held a lead late into the second half.

Unfortunately for coach Mark Lovelace and the Cardinals, the end result was still the same — a loss.

"I don't know what it is," said Lovelace. "I don't know if it's just that we haven't found a way to play consistent basketball for 40 minutes, or it it's the fact that we tighten up in close games down the stretch. Or maybe it's just our inexperience.

"I don't know — it's just something we have to keep working through."

SMU nearly pulled out that elusive first win against the Tommies, but UST's Joey Shimek scored four points during a game-ending 11-4 run to help the Tommies hold off the Cardinals. After a 3-pointer by St. Thomas' Neal Anderson gave the Tommies a 52-47 lead with 1:32 to play, SMU clawed back, getting to within one, 52-51, on two Dan Kloak (Elmwood Park, Ill.) free throws. That, however, was as close as the Cardinals would get, as USt scored the game's final six points to seal the win.

"Our inexperience showed down the stretch," said Lovelace, noting that he is without two junior starters who are hurt, as well as three other upperclassmen who are ineligible. "We were within one point with 1:15 left, and over that final 1:15, we don't score again, and (St. Thomas) hits six free throws.

"The effort is there — these guys are playing hard every night," continued Lovelace. "But the wins aren't, and that's been a little frustrating for the guys.

"I can see improvement, I can see us taking steps in the right direction, but right now, more than anything, this team needs to have a win to show for their efforts."