Box Score

All things considered, it was a great way to start the holiday season. Hamline's men's basketball team shook off a seven-point deficit at halftime to outscore Concordia handily in the second half and post a 75-69 win in Moorhead Saturday afternoon. 

Four players -- led by Dior Ford, who scored 18 points -- connected in double figures as HU evened its overall mark at 4-4 and completed a difficult start to the MIAC season with a 2-3 record.

In addition to Ford, Jake Kreuser had a career high 17 points while Austin Johnson scored 16 and Tyler Pannell found the long range touch with three three-pointers and 11 points.

HU trailed 42-35 at intermission and was behind 56-48 with 13:06 left in the game, HU exploded for a 13-1 run in the next five minutes to forge a 61-57 lead. The Cobbers, however, weren't done and tied the game at 61 with 4:11 left. Kreuser broke the tie for good with a jumper. Pannell followed that with a three-pointer to give HU a five-point lead. It eventually got as high as nine points at 71-62 but the Cobbers made a late run to creep within four at 73-69 with 25 seconds to play.

Pannell made two free throws to finish things off and make for a happy ride home. Hamline shot 52.6 per cent from the field (30-57) and held the Cobbers to just 40.3 per cent (25-for-62).

The Pipers now take time off for final exams and a holiday break. They resume action December 29 when they face Otterbein in a tournament at Cal Lutheran. They will play either the host school or Ripon the next day.