RIVER FALLS, WIS.--The Hamline University men's basketball team held UW-River Falls to a .298 (17-of-57) field goal percentage and a .111 (2-of-18) three-point percentage, both are opponent season-lows. That, combined with Hamline's season-high 13 steals and 18 forced turnovers carried them to a 58-45 victory at Page Arena on Thursday night.
The Pipers improve to 6-4, while the Falcons fall to 4-5 on the season. UWRF's 45 points is the lowest total from a HU opponent since January 30, 2021, a 55-38 victory over Bethel.
Hamline 58, UW-River Falls 45
Hamline took an early lead, scoring the game's first 12 points, including a fast-break layup by
Brendan Ebel at 16:30. The Falcons struggled offensively in the opening minutes, committing multiple turnovers that the Pipers capitalized on. This struggle was reflected in the opponent season-lows set by Hamline's defense.
Bradley Cimperman was active on both ends for the Pipers, contributing with defensive rebounds and a quick jumper early on. The Falcons managed to break their scoring drought with a layup by Zac Johnson at the 15:21 mark, but the Pipers maintained control with a consistent scoring run, ending the half with a 34-16 advantage.
In the second half,
Austin Holt was active on both ends, securing multiple defensive rebounds and contributing four points with layups, pushing the Pipers' lead to 41-22 with 15:38 remaining.
Brendan Ebel also made a notable impact, with a steal and a 3-pointer, increasing their lead to 45-25 with 14:06 on the clock. The Falcons' efforts included Gavin Ralph's free throws and a jumper by Zac Johnson, but turnovers hindered their momentum. As the half progressed, the Falcons reduced the deficit with a late scoring surge, highlighted by Riley Ashburn's six points in the final minutes, bringing the score to 58-45. Despite the late push from the home team, the Pipers maintained control and secured a 58-45 win.
Daniel McCarrell led the team in baskets made, scoring 15 points with a 7-for-13 shooting performance.
Brendan Ebel matched McCarrell's scoring with 15 points, also contributing a team-high six steals and three assists.
Raoul Vaidya was another key player, scoring nine points and grabbing two steals.
Austin Holt made a significant impact on the boards, securing 14 rebounds, the highest on the team, and adding 10 points along with three steals. The Pipers shot .383 (23-of-60) in the contest.
Micah Thompson led River Falls with 11 total rebounds, showcasing his strength on the boards. Jack Leifker contributed defensively with a team-high of two blocks, adding nine rebounds and eight points to his stat line. Zac Johnson was the top scorer with seven points, along with five rebounds and one steal. Gavin Ralph provided additional support by securing five rebounds and scoring four points. Drew Adams also added depth with five rebounds and four points in the game.
