Box Score Zach Smith inched closer to 1,000 career points with a game high 19 markers but the Hamline men's basketball team could not hold off a late St. Mary's surge and took a 75-70 defeat in Winona Wednesday night. The junior guard, who played all 40 minutes, now has 933 for his career at HU. Kalu Abosi (23) added a dozen points (10 in the first half) and Dylan See-Rockers kicked in 10 for Hamline, which fell to 11-9, 8-7 in the MIAC. The latter mark leaves them in fifth place with five games to play. 

As was the case when the teams played at Hutton last month, it was a tight game all the way. The five-point margin at the end was the largest either team mustered all night. For much of the first half, the Pipers had the better of it. They raced to a couple of five point leads only to see the Cardinals come back to even the score. SMU went ahead 32-28 and Hamline responded with a 9-2 run to end the half and take a 37-34 lead at intermission. 

St. Mary's led much of the second half. A See-Rockers' layup tied the score for the eighth time at 64 and Smith's subsequent jumper put Hamline ahead 66-64 with 2:29 remaining. A SMU three-pointer put the home team back ahead and HU never was able to get on top again. In the end, the Pipers were forced to foul. The Cardinals converted all eight tries in the final 38 seconds of play to seal the win. 

Hamline will be on the road again Saturday at Gustavus Adolphus. Game time is 3:00 p.m.