Box Score Hamline's men's basketball team choked off Macalester's offense early and never let up en route to a 71-49 victory at Leonard Center Monday. Three Pipers scored in double figures but it was a solid defensive effort that held the Scots to just 30 per cent from the field in the first 20 minutes of play that turned the tide.

Connor Knutson continued his hot offensive ways with 18 points -- his eighth straight game in double figures. Zach Smith added a dozen markers and Quinton Garvis contributed 10 to pace the offense for HU, now 4-12 overall and 2-9 in conference play. Bret Lukes had a career high eight rebounds as Hamline enjoyed a 35-29 edge on the boards. Travis VanElsberg contributed four of the Pipers' nine steals for the game that also fueled the defense. 

HU led from the start. Smith, Herbert Tarpeh and Isaac Brooks staked HU to a 6-0 lead in the first six minutes of play. The lead ballooned to 10 points but Macalester chopped that back to four with six minutes left. A 10-4 surge at the end of the half pushed the margin to 34-21 at intermission. 

A 9-0 outburst in the middle of the second half secured Hamline's lead at 51-34 and they kept the Scots at arm's length the rest of the night.

The Pipers shot 49.2 per cent for the game (29-59). 

Hamline stays on the road the rest of the week. They play at St. John's (13-4, 8-4) Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, HU is at St. Olaf (10-7, 8-4) in a 1:00 p.m. encounter.