Box Score Fittingly, Zach Smith and Connor Knutson are now tied for the lead on the Hamline men's basketball team at 12.1 points per game. On Wednesday night at Sexton Arena in Collegeville, they delivered quite the 1-2 punch to St. John's. The Pipers dropped the game to SJU, 91-82 but not before Smith roared in with a career high 25 points and Knutson delivered 24. Isaac Brooks came off the bench to add 10 for HU, which had its second best offensive output of the season. 

It was a game that started fast and rarely slowed down. After just 3:16 of play, HU trailed by 12-10 with Smith scoring six of the points. The Johnnies led by 11 with three minutes left in the half only to see the dynamic duo whittle that to 43-36 at halftime. 

In the second half, St. John's pushed the lead to 19 points but Hamline refused to go away and worked it back to seven at 81-74 with 4:17 to play. That was close as the Pipers could get, though. 

In addition to the scoring brigade, Bret Lukes led the Pipers with seven rebounds and a career high three assists. Knutson was the top assist man with four. 

Hamline is 4-13 overall, 2-10 in the MIAC. The Pipers play at St. Olaf (10-8, 8-5 MIAC) Saturday. Game time is 1:00 p.m.