Box Score It was a night to remember for the Hamline men's basketball team. The Pipers earned their first win over neighbor St. Thomas in 11 years Wednesday with a solidly played 74-61 decision. Perhaps even of more importance it is the first HU men's hoop win on a UST home court since the 1979-80 season -- when the Tommies played at old O'Shaughnessy Hall.  

Zach Smith fired in 28 points and Jay Betts came off the bench to add a dozen. Dylan See-Rockers contributed 10 and six rebounds. Kalu Abosi and Bret Lukes also had six rebounds to help HU to a 35-32 edge in that department. The Pipers shot 49.8 per cent from the field while holding the Tommies to just 42 per cent.  Smith hit three three-points and was 5-for-6 from the free throw line to regain the conference lead in points per game at 22.1. The junior guard is second in free throws with 44 made and third in free throw shooting percentage at .917.

A swarming defense also harassed the Tommies, who are the defending NCAA Division III men's basketball champions, into committing 18 turnovers. 

The last HU men's BB win of any sort was a72-79 win at Hutton on January 17, 2011. Wednesday's game had plenty of drama to it. St. Thomas had the early lead at 12-11 when HU erupted for a 20-5 run to grab a 14-point lead at 31-17. St. Thomas fought back to within nine at halftime at 33-24. The homestanders came out gunning in the second half as well, getting with in a point at 39-38 with 14:24 left. The Pipers, however, responded with baskets by Abosi and Lukes and a pair of Smith free throws to boost the lead to seven points and then held off UST the rest of the way. 

Hamline outscored UST in second chance points by a wide 16-2 margin and in the points off turnovers by 24-16 to end a series of frustrations on UST courts that had extended to 38 games. 

The win elevated the Pipers' overall record to 4-3, 1-2 in the MIAC. Hamline doesn't have long to cherish the win. They play at Carleton (4-3, 1-2 MIAC) Saturday. Game time is 3:00 p.m.