COLLEGEVILLE, MINN.--The Hamline University men's basketball team fell to No. 21 Saint John's (Minn.) 79-61 in Collegeville on Saturday afternoon.

The Pipers fall to 6-7, 2-2 MIAC while the Johnnies improve to 11-2, 4-0 MIAC.

Hamline 79, Saint John's 61

Hamline started the first half strong with Daniel McCarrell and Bradley Cimperman each hitting early three-pointers, giving them a 6-0 lead. Saint John's responded with an offensive surge led by Blake Berg, who contributed with a series of successful shots, including a three-pointer and layups, pushing Saint John's to a 19-8 advantage with 11:47 on the clock. The Pipers struggled with turnovers and missed shots, allowing the Johnnies to extend their lead, with Ryan Thissen and Luke Healy adding to the home team's score. By the end of the first half, the Johnnies led 35-25, despite a late 3-pointer from Raoul Vaidya.

In the second half, Saint John's secured a strong lead over the Pipers, outscoring them 44-36. Early in the half, Blake Berg opened with a dunk, assisted by Kooper Vaughn, to extend the home team's lead to 37-25. Raoul Vaidya contributed significantly with multiple successful jumpers and layups, although his efforts were countered by the Johnnies' Zach Longueville, who made effective use of free throws and assists. A key stretch for Saint John's included a series of 3-pointers by Luke Healy and Ryan Thissen, pushing their lead further. Toward the end, Daniel McCarrell made a fast break layup for the Pipers, but it was not enough to close the gap as the Johnnies maintained their advantage with consistent scoring from multiple players en route to a 79-61 win.

Bradley Cimperman led the Pipers with 15 points, showcasing his shooting ability by making five baskets, including three from beyond the arc. Raoul Vaidya was also a key contributor with 13 points and a game-high of six baskets made. Daniel McCarrell added significant defensive pressure, leading the team with three steals while scoring eight points. Austin Holt made an efficient contribution with 12 points, shooting 4-for-5 from the field and making all four of his free throws.

Hamline shot .442 (23-of-52) from the field and .412 (7-of-17) from beyond the arc, but the Johnnies countered with a .556 (30-of-54) field goal mark and .588 (10-of-17) three-point figure.

Blake Berg led the Johnnies with a standout performance, scoring 22 points on nine-of-13 shooting, including two blocks. Ryan Thissen added 17 points, demonstrating his shooting efficiency by hitting seven of 10 baskets and all three of his 3-point attempts. Luke Healy contributed 13 points and was effective defensively with two steals. Zach Longueville was notable for his all-around contributions, scoring nine points and leading the team with three assists and four rebounds.

The Pipers will travel to Carleton on Wednesday, January 8 for a 5:30 p.m. game.