SAINT PAUL, MINN.—The Hamline University men's basketball team opened MIAC play with a 81-75 road victory over Saint Mary's (Minn.) on Tuesday afternoon.

The Pipers improve to 2-1, 1-0 MIAC, while the Cardinals fall to 1-4, 0-1 MIAC.

Hamline 81, Saint Mary's 75

A whopping 12 lead changes occurred in the contest. Bradley Cimperman, who made his 2023-24 season debut, scored 20 of his game-high 30 points in the second half. His first points of the second half was a three-pointer that gave Hamline the lead for good at 43-40 with 16:38 left. 

Cimperman, who shot 10-of-15 from the field, contributed a team-leading seven rebounds. Austin Holt added 16 points as well as a team-leading four assists and three steals. Brendan Ebel contributed 11 points and five rebounds for the Pipers.

Hamline finished the game with a .537 (29-of-54) field goal percentage. It marked their highest shooting percentage since February 19, 2022, when they shot .596 (31-of-52) in an 89-64 win over Saint Mary's in the MIAC Tournament First Round.

Bretton Buysman paced the Cardinals with 24 points.

The Pipers will host Bethel at Hutton Arena on Wednesday, November 29 at 7 p.m.