ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University men's basketball team opened its 2012-13 season with an exhibition basketball game at No. 5 Michigan.  The Cardinals would fall to the Wolverines 76-48 in their only preseason tune-up before taking the court against Cedarville on Nov. 15 for their regular season opener.

The Cardinals would take an early 2-0 lead on a Chris Webb (Saginaw, Mich./Arthur Hill HS) fast break layup off of an outlet pass from Kellen Smith (Covington, Ky./Scott HS).  Michigan regrouped and scored back-to-back buckets before Webb hit a three to give Saginaw Valley a 5-4 advantage.   

The Cardinals went on to tie the game at 7-7 on a Smith layup with 16:27 to play in the half.  

The Wolverines proceeded to run out an 11-7 advantage before Meijer "Player of the Game" Brett Beland (Menominee, Mich. / Menominee HS) forced a Trey Burke turnover and laid in a fast break bucket to cut the Michigan lead to two points.

Saginaw Valley trimmed the Wolverines lead to 22-12 on a three by Damon Bozeman (Detroit, Mich. / Madison Heights HS) with 11:01 to play in the first.

The Cardinals cut the Michigan lead to 38-18 late in the first half on back-to-back three point baskets by sophomore Patrick O'Brien (Flint, Mich. / Powers Catholic HS). O'Brien led the Cardinal scoring in the first half with six points.

The Wolverines opened the second half on a quick 4-2 run that was stalled by a Smith layup with 18:01 left in the game.  From there the Cardinals went scoreless over the next four minutes until Beland hit back-to-back threes to make the score 60-30.

Freshman Stone Beckwith (Beal City, Mich.) knocked down back-to-back three point baskets for his first points in a Cardinal uniform to bring the score to 65-36 with 6:59 to play.

Beckwith connected on his third three of the contest after Bozman hit a fast break jumper to cut the Michigan advantage to 65-38.

Freshman Brady Watson (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage HS) would hit a three pointer off of an inbounds play moments after entering the game for the Cardinals. 

Vincent Adams closed out the scoring at 76-48 with a layup as time was winding down in the game as Michigan went on to the 76-48 win.

Beland led the Cardinals with 10 points, while Webb and Beckwith each added nine points in the contest.

The Cardinals exhibition game that was schedule for Wed. (Nov. 7) has been postponed and will likely be rescheduled as a regular season game during the season.