Box Score Before Wednesday's game with St. Mary's, HU junior forward Dior Ford was honored with a ball commemorating his entry into the 1,000 point club (see picture). 

After the game, one might have included to give him a game ball for his efforts. For good measure, he could have Jake Kreuser grab it off the boards and give it to him. 

Ford fired in 28 points -- his most ever in a MIAC game -- and Kreuser was a force in the middle all night as Hamline wore down St. Mary's, 69-60 at Hutton Arena. 

Ford led the offense with nine baskets (including a pair of three pointers) and drained all eight of his free throw attempts (he leads the league with a .857 percentage). Austin Johnson was the only other HU player in double digits with 11 points.

Kreuser played as big a role as one might expect as seven-footer to do.

All he did Wednesday was:

• record a career high 11 rebounds
• hand out a team high three assists
• block two shots and force several other ones to go awry
• snare two steals

For all that, it was still nip and tuck most of the way. The Pipers led early only to see SMU hit a three-pointer at halftime for a 39-38 lead. 

SMU, whose head coach is former HU assistant Jamison Rusthoven, moved ahead 49-44 in the second half. The Pipers scored the next five points to tie the game with 11:34 left. A SMU free throw untied it at 50-49. Johnson and Blaine Storlie hit shots a minute apart to give HU a 53-50 edge. 

The Cardinals crept within three at 58-55 with 1:24 left when Ford delivered a dagger -- a three-pointer that turned the tide for the final time. 

Hamline is now 9-15 overall, 6-13 in the MIAC.

They get a chance to finish the season with double digit victories when they host Concordia in the season finale Saturday at Hutton Arena. Game time is 3:00 p.m.

Before the game, seniors Sam Conrad, Jordan Sayers and Tyler Pannell will be honored.