Box Score Three conference games on the road in one week is a tall task for any team. Accordingly, getting off to a good start is critical and the HU men's basketball team did just that Monday, outscoring St. Olaf by 14 points in the second half to record a 65-57 victory over the Oles in Northfield Monday night. 

Zach Smith scored 17 of his game high 21 points in the second 20 minutes and Dylan See-Rockers added 11 of his  season high 17 markers as the Pipers moved back into fourth place by themselves with an 8-6 MIAC mark. HU is 11-8 overall. 

Not much went right early. The Pipers shot just 26 per cent from the field (7-27) and went into the locker room trailing 27-21. Smith, a junior, got the second half off to a good start with a basket. Hamline trailed 36-31 with 14 minutes left when they went on a 8-0 run to grab the lead. The game rocked back and forth from there until See-Rockers' layup with 6:48 left gave the Pipers a 53-51 lead -- an advantage they never surrendered again. The basket kick started a 10-2 run and the Pipers kept the Oles at bay the rest of the way. 

Free Throws were an integral part of the win. Led by Smith (8-9) and See-Rockers (6-7), the Pipers were 16-18 from the line. They were better from the field as well in the second half, connecting on 15 of 29 tries. Smith's big night pushed him to a career high 356 points for the season. He also crossed the 900 point barrier for his career and now has 913. He leads the MIAC (and is fourth in the country for D-III shooters) in Free Throw Percentage at .932 (96-103). See-Rockers (pictured), who was limited to eight games last season due to injury, has also been hot at the line lately, nailing 15 of his last 17 efforts.

Hamline won the first meeting between the schools, 60-58, on Jan. 4 at Hutton Arena. This decision gave the Pipers their first sweep over St. Olaf (and their first win in their arena) since the 2008-09 season.

HU will crisscross the state the rest of the week. The Pipers play at St. Mary's in Winona on Wednesday, Feb. 1.  Game time is 7 p.m.Their first meeting at Hutton Arena on Jan. 2 was a thriller with five players scoring in double figures in Hamline's 89-86 win. HU heads to St. Peter on Saturday, Feb. 4 to take on the Gusties at 3 p.m.