NORTHFIELD, Minn. - In their final conference game before winter break, the Hamline men's basketball team (1-6, 0-5 MIAC) fell to St. Olaf (5-3, 2-2 MIAC) 76-55 in Northfield.
 
Three players ended in double figures for the Pipers. Junior Michael Dillon had a team-leading 14 points, but senior Lucas Berg and sophomore Luke Siwek were right behind him with 13 points each. Berg shot especially efficient throughout the game, hitting five of six from the field, including three of three from deep.
 
Four of St. Olaf's starters also reached double digits, being led by senior Nate Albers' double-double (15 points, 12 rebounds).
 
The Pipers got off to a fast start in the contest, outscoring the Oles 17-10 in the first six minutes. HU would hold onto a lead for the first 11 minutes, until Carter Uphus scored a layup to put St. Olaf up 22-21 with a little under nine minutes to play in the half.
 
The Oles did not look back from there, finishing the half strong to take a seven-point lead into halftime, leading 35-28.
 
St. Olaf would hold the lead for the entirety of the second half. With 12 minutes left in the game, a layup from Dillon got HU back within six, but the Pipers could get no closer. Ten unanswered points for the Oles a little bit later in the half would put the game out of reach for HU, with the final score ending 76-55.
 
Hamline shot 40.0% (22-55) from the field in the game, but only 30% (6-20) from three. The Oles, meanwhile, shot better in both categories, hitting 48.4% (31-64) of their shots and 50.0% (9-18) from behind the arc.
 
 The Pipers will have one more game before a two-week break, traveling to UW-River Falls this Saturday for a 7:00 p.m. game. After that, HU will not play again until the 29^th of December when the team heads to Florida for a pair of games.