SAINT PAUL, MINN.—The 2021-22 home opener pitted the Hamline University men's basketball team against Martin Luther College on Wednesday night. Martin Luther sent the game to overtime via Jacob Price's three-pointer at the buzzer that tied the game at 68-68. The momentum didn't stay in the Knights' favor as Hamline never surrendered the lead in overtime, where they secured their first win of the season in an 81-74 score.

The Pipers improve to 1-2, while Martin Luther falls to 0-5.

Hamline 81, Martin Luther 74 (OT)

Nine lead changes occurred in the contest, as the Pipers didn't trail for the remainder of the game when Chasen Livingston's layup with 0:47 left in the second half made the score 66-65. Livingston added a pair of free throws to make the score 68-65 with 0:02 on the clock, which provoked a Martin Luther timeout. It paid dividends as Martin Luther's Jacob Price hit a three-pointer from the top of the key at the buzzer that knotted the game at 68-68.

Freshman Tait Nelson tallied seven points in overtime, which engineered a Hamline squad that outscored Martin Luther 13-6 in the frame en route to an 81-74 victory.

Nelson paced Hamline with 20 points on 8-of-20 shooting, while Conner Krenos added 18 points on an 8-of-12 mark. Cooper Berg registered four three-pointers for the Pipers, and finished the contest with 14 points. Chasen Livingston nearly tallied a double-double with 13 rebounds and nine points for Hamline.

Both teams struggled from the free-throw line, as they combined for a 31-of-51 figure.

Ezra Blumer tallied a game-high 22 points for Martin Luther.

The Pipers will host Augsburg on Saturday, November 20 at 3:00 p.m.