RIVER FALLS, Wis. - Despite a close start to the game, the Hamline men's basketball team (1-7, 0-5 MIAC) fell to the University of Wisconsin River Falls (5-3) with a final score of 79-56 on the road.
 
Sophomore Luke Siwek led the Pipers with 17 points on the night, while shooting an effiecient 66.6% (8-12). He also added a team-high four assists. Sophomore Cooper Berg chipped in with eight points and junior Alec Jonason was close behind with seven of his own. 
 
Berg and first year Marshall Holland each collected seven rebounds for HU, as the Pipers held a  31-28 edge in rebounding throughout the game. However, the Falcons held a 20-3 advantage in points off turnovers, forcing 13 in the game. UW-River Falls also found a way to get to the free-throw line more often, scoring 18 points from the charity stripe compared to Hamline's four. 
 
It was a back and forth game in the beginning of the first half. Siwek scored first in the period and the two teams continued to trade the lead for the first seven minutes. The last lead Hamline held was with 12:58 left on the clock with a score of 12-11. River Falls then scored a three-pointer to regain the lead, and didn't look back from there.
 
Hamline headed into the locker room with a deficit of 17 points, down 41-24. To start the second half, junior Michael Dillon hit a three, to put the Pipers within 14, but that would be as close as HU would get. Later in the half, the Falcons went on an 11-3 run to put the game out of reach, leading by 27 with 6:30 left. From there, UWRF was able to cruise to the 79-56 win. 
 
The Falcons' scoring efforts were led by Matt Keller who put up 17 points. Julian Jackson and Alex Ohde each tallied 14 for the team. Jackson also led UWRF in rebounds with six on the night. 
 
HU will have over a two-week break before they play again, heading to Naples, Florida for games on Sunday, December 29th and Monday, December 30th. Hamline will then return home to continue conference play at Hutton Arena against St. Thomas on January 6 at 7:00pm.