ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — Saint Mary's University men's basketball coach would have loved for his Cardinals to pick up right where they left off when they returned from the Christmas break Monday evening.

After all, the Cardinals headed into the break riding the high of a 61-50 win over Dominican that snapped SMU's season-opening seven-game losing streak.

And for the first half against the Royals, the Cardinals did just that, shooting 46 percent from the field as they headed into the locker room trailing high-powered Bethel by just four, 40-36.

Then came the second half.

SMU equaled its offensive effort over the final 20 minutes, scoring 36 points, but the Royals picked their game up a notch or two, erupting for 52-second half points en route to the 92-72 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win.

Eric Lear (Antioch, Ill.) led four SMU players in double figures with 18 points, while Dan Kloak (Elmwood, Ill.) recorded his first double-double of the season, netting 14 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. Brensley Haywood (Joliet, Ill.) chipped in 11 points and John Gencius (Chicago, Ill.) finished with 10 for the Cardinals (0-4 MIAC, 1-8 overall).

Travis Jones had a game-high 29 points for Bethel, which opened the second half with a 20-2 run and shot 48 percent from the 3-point line (15 of 31) in improving to 3-1 in the MIAC and 8-1 overall.