If the Hamline men's basketball team advances to the MIAC playoffs this season, they may look back at Monday's dramatic 68-65 win over St. Mary's at Hutton Arena as a seminal moment. Trey Prince drilled a three-pointer with 5.9 seconds remaining in the game to send the Pipers to the win. HU improved to 10-12 overall. More importantly, they are tied with Gustavus Adolphus for sixth place -- the last conference playoff position. Each team is 7-10 with three games to play.

Concordia (6-10) is also in the mix. The Cobbers have four games to play. 

Jake Larson (pictured), who tied his career high with 22 points, fed Prince, who calmly nailed his long distance shot from near the HU bench for the win. It was Larson's team high third assists of the game. Isaac Brooks added 14 points (including 11 free throws) with Ethan Scheuring chipping in with a double-double with 10 points and a like number of rebounds. (Larson had six boards as well.) 

This was tough sledding from the start. The Cardinals grabbed the lead eight minutes into the game and refused to relinquish it. HU trailed 32-28 at halftime. 

SMU pushed it to 10 points at 46-36 with 13:17 to play. Larson then ignited a comeback with a pair of three-pointers. In a four-minute span, Hamline outscored SMU 18-7 to grab a 54-54 lead with 9:16 left. It went back and forth from there with several tie scores and both team taking turns with leads of one and two points. 

A Cardinal free throw knotted things at 65 with 47 seconds left. Brooks missed a three pointer but Lucas Berg grabbed a key rebound. With the shot clock winding down, Larson passed to Prince, who hit nothing but net for his 12th trey of the season. 

The Pipers are off until Saturday, February 9 when they travel to Carleton for their final away game of the regular season, They will be at home in the season's final week for games against St. Olaf (February 13) and Bethel (February 16).