Box Score That was an impressive opening act for Isaac Brooks. So was the second act for Zach Smith. 

Brooks led all players with 18 points and seven rebounds in his first collegiate game and Smith started his sophomore season with 17 points as Hamline opened the 2015-16 season with a 81-67 loss to Northwestern (Minn.) at Hutton Arena Tuesday night. 

The Eagles, who were playing their second game of the season, led most of the way but the Pipers kept pecking away and kept the outcome in doubt until the final minutes. 

Brooks (30) and Smith were a major reason why. Brooks, a 6-5 forward from Lakeville, Minn. went 9-for-13 from the floor and helped HU to a 39-31 edge in rebounds. He rattled in a dozen points in the first half that ended with the Pipers trailing 40-31. Smith, who was named to the MIAC All-Rookie team last year, showed why in the second half as he scored 11 points to keep the Pipers within striking distance of the team that advanced to last year's NCAA D-III Sweet Sixteen. HU cut the lead to six at one point and kept the inside of double digits until the final three minutes. 

In addition to Brooks, Dylan See-Rockers had six rebounds with Smith and Herbert Tarpeh getting five each. 

Hamline is off until November 24 when they play at North Central in Minneapolis. On Thanksgiving weeke3nd, they will face Whitworth (No. 3 in the nation in an early poll) and Howard Payne in a tournament in Colorado Springs, Col.