Box Score Hamline led most of the way but North Central's Luke Chafin's basket ,with 3.4 seconds remaining was the difference in a 75-74 setback Friday night at Hutton Arena. Austin Johnson scored 19 points and Quinton Garvis (pictured with ball) and Dior Ford added 15 apiece as the Pipers fell to 4-5 on the season. Garvis' 15 is a career high for the freshman.

The Pipers started fast, bolting to a 21-10 lead in the first seven minutes of the game. But the Rams (4-6) began to gnaw away and cut the margin to a single point -- 37-36 -- by intermission.

HU again bolted fast at the start of the second stanza. Johnson fired in 10 points as part of 17-5 run in the first 5 1/2 minutes that pushed the lead to 54-41. HU kept the double digit margin for a long time and still held a seven point edge at 70-63 with 3:35 left. The Rams scored six in a row to make it 70-69 but Johnson responded with a jumper and a pair of free throws to make it 74-69 with a little over minute to play. NCU, however, hit four foul shots and the Chafin basket to regain the lead. The Pipers had one last chance but Zach Smith's three point try just missed the mark.,

Hamline is off until January 3 when they return to MIAC play against Macalester at Hutton Arena. It's the second game of a women's-men's doubleheader with tipoff scheduled for 3:00 p.m.