Box Score Points aren't the only way some tight basketball games are decided. A well-placed rebound or two can be the difference as well.

Just ask the Hamline men's basketball team. Thanks to key boards by Ethan Scheuring and Dylan See-Rockers (and the subsequent making of free throws), the Pipers held off Gustavus Adolphus for a 68-63 win in St. Peter Saturday. it was the first time since the 2010-11 season that the Pipers left Gus Young Court with a victory. Not coincidentally, it was their first two -game sweep of GAC since the same season. 

Zach Smith was the top Piper pointgetter with 19. The junior also had a game high four steals.  Scheuring added 14 off the bench with See-Rockers contributing 11 and Isaac Brooks delivered10. HU also held a 35-32 edge in rebounds for the game with Scheuring leading the way there with seven.

The game was tied at 62 with 1:23 remaining when Gustavus' Schuyler Thompson missed a jumper. Scheuring muscled his way to the rebound, drawing a foul in the process. He sunk one of the two shots to put Hamline ahead 63-62. Back came the Gusties with a jumper that bounced awry. This time, See-Rockers grabbed the ball and was promptly fouled. The junior, who was 6-for-7 on the day from the line, hit both shots and HU held off the home team from there to improve to 9-7 in MIAC, 12-9 overall.

It was a nice capper to an exhausting week that saw the Pipers play three road games in a 5 1/2 days, winning two of them. The Pipers have been road warriors this season, sporting a 7-4 won-loss mark away from Hutton Arena

The win allowed HU, picked for 11th in the coaches' preseason poll,  to keep pace with Concordia in a tie for fifth place. The top six teams make the MIAC postseason. St. Olaf is seventh with a 7-8 league mark.  (The Oles will make up their game in hand in the final week of the season.)

Hamline gets back on its home floor Wednesday, February 8 when they face league leader St. Thomas. Game time is 7:00 p.m.