Box Score Dior Ford scored 22 points and Austin Johnson recorded a double-double but Hamline was unable to catch up to Bethel and lost a 75-68 decision at Hutton Arena Saturday.

The Pipers hit 19 of 22 free throws and outrebounded the Royals, 32-29. But BU held a 36-24 edge on points in the paint and were able to hold several second half runs.

The game was tied at 15 with eight minutes left in the first half when Bethel took off on a 10-3 sprint to grab a seven-point lead. That was the margin at halftime -- 34-27.

The visitors kicked it up to 12 in the second half but the Pipers kept pecking away and got with in four on two occasions in the late going. The last time came when Tyler Pannell hit two of three free throws to make it 70-66 with 42 seconds left. The Royals scored five of the last seven points of the game -- all from the free throw line -- to clinch matters.

Pannell, incidentally, hit three three-point shots and now has 150 for his Hamline career. 

Ford (with ball), who was the game's top scorer, is just 19 points away from 1,000 career points. Johnson, who was the game's top rebounder with 10, added 13 points for his fourth double-double of the season. 

Hamline is 8-13 overall, 5-11 in the MIAC. They will play at Augsburg Wednesday night. Game time is 7:30 p.m.