Finlandia University's Geoff Smart drives to the basket against College of St. Scholastica's Brandon Newman Wednesday night at Paavo Nurmi Gym. (Paul Peterson photo)

HANCOCK — His team is in a rut and Finlandia University men’s basketball coach Mike O’Donnell doesn’t know what to do about it.

“It’s frustrating to see us play like that,” O’Donnell said after an 87-58 loss to St. Scholastica Wednesday night at Paavo Nurmi Gym. “It’s very disappointing.”

The Lions, now 2-10 this season, fell behind early in the game as the Saints came out blazing.

Collin Anderson and Brandon Newman led the Minnesota team to an early 15-5 lead. Finlandia never could recover.

Geoff Smart helped the locals get back to within 36-27 by the halftime break.

“We got a little spark from Smart there,” O’Donnell said. “But we couldn’t carry it over.”

Instead, St. Scholastica went on a 22-8 run to increase the lead to 58-34 early in the second half.

O’Donnell was left to ponder what to do about his slumping squad.

“It’s funny, we played pretty well in our first game off break,” he noted. “But it seems we’re seeing the same mistakes we’ve been making.”

Myles Ellington led the Lions with 14 points, while Smart tossed in 13 more. Brandon Robinette was held to nine points, the same amount managed by Tristan Johnson.

Austin Carlson and Robinette each grabbed seven boards.

Anderson paced the Saints with 15 points and Jarod Wilken put in 14 points and nabbed 13 rebounds.

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ST. SCHOLASTICA — Wilken 14, Newman 11, Thompson 11, Anderson 15, Zimmerman 9, Weets 5, Stark 6, Liebert 6, Dahlman 6, Olson 3, Vitta 2. FT 12-19; Rebounds: 53 (Wilken 13); Fouls: 14; Fouled out: None; 3-point FG: Thompson 2, Stark 2, Anderson 2, Olson 1, Dahlman 1.

FINLANDIA — Robinette 9, Johnston 9, Smart 14, Carlson 5, Ellington 14, Browner 6, Barnett 2. FT: 6-14; Rebounds: 33 (Carlson, Robinette 7); Fouls: 16; Fouled out: None; 3-point FG: Smart 2, Ellington 2, Johnson 3, Robinette 1.

Halftime score: SS 36, FU 27.