NAPLES, Fla. - The Hamline men's basketball team (1-8, 0-5 MIAC) opened their Florida trip with a tight 65-60 loss to UW-Whitewater (5-5) on Sunday evening. The Pipers will continue the tournament with a game against Baruch tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. (CT).
 
The game was a tale of two halves, as HU shot an impressive 51.7% in the first half, but were held to a 23.3% shooting percentage in the second half. The Pipers would see their 10-point halftime lead disappear, as the Warhawks outscored them 38-23 in the second 20 minutes.
 
First year Conner Krenos led Hamline in the contest, coming off the bench to finish with 14 points, hitting five of nine and four of eight from beyond the arc. Sophomore Luke Siwek also ended in double figures, putting up 11.
 
The Warhawks were the first to score in the game, but the Pipers scored eight straight points later in the half to take a nine-point lead at 18-9. The run started with Jake Larson and Michael Dillon hitting back-to-back threes, followed by Larson draining a jumper. An and-one for the Warhawks at the end of the half brought it back to a 10-point game, as HU took a 37-27 lead into the halftime break.
 
Krenos scored 11 of his 14 points in the first half, going 3-4 from deep. The Pipers defense also had a good half, holding UW-Whitewater to under 40.0% shooting.
 
The Warhawks came out strong in the second half, scoring the first eight points and holding the Pipers scoreless for the first five minutes. Halfway through the half, the game was tied at 47 points apiece. From there, UW-Whitewater scored the next four points and would hold onto the lead for the remainder of the game, going on to win 65-60.
 
The Pipers will play again tomorrow, December 30, at 9:30 a.m. (CT) when they will take on Baruch (N.Y.) at the Community School of Naples.