Box Score Hamline's men's basketball team held a huge rebound edge and rallied from a 16-point second half deficit but came up just short in a 70-67 loss at  St. Mary's Wednesday in the conference opener for both teams. HU senior Dior Ford led all scorers with 17 points. Freshman Zach Smith (pictured) added a career high 13 markers while Austin Johnson had a dozen points and a game high eight rebounds. Quinton Garvis also had 10 for the Pipers, who are now 3-2 overall. 

HU fell into a hole early in the game, going to the locker room down 35-23. A quick burst at the start of the second half cut that margin to five at 42-37. But the Cardinals, playing their first game of the season, quickly pushed the lead to double digits, eventually stretching the edge to 16 points at 57-41 with 9:58 left.  HU, however, wasn't finished. Smith hit six free throws and Garvis added five points in a six minute stretch. Ford's layup cut it to 61-60 with 2:44 left in the game. SMU hit nine free throws  the rest of the way to hold on for the win. 

In addition to Johnsons's mastery of the boards, Bennett Cooper snared six while Ford and Garvis grabbed five each.

Hamline hosts Concordia (3-2, 0-1 MIAC) Saturday at Hutton Arena. Game time is 3:00 p.m.