SAINT PAUL, Minn. — The Hamline University men's basketball team (1-0, 0-0 MIAC) defeated Northwestern-St. Paul (0-1, 0-0 UMAC) 99-84, fueled by 56 points in the paint at the Ericksen Center.

The first half began with Hamline taking an early lead, with Raoul Vaidya opening the scoring from the free-throw line. Brendan Ebel was instrumental for the Pipers, contributing key points including a fast break layup to extend their advantage. Northwestern-St. Paul responded with a series of successful plays, including a layup by Japheth Nyamari, but Hamline maintained control. Dominic Dosmann had a strong presence in the paint, securing offensive rebounds and converting them into scores, helping Hamline to a 48-39 lead by the end of the half.

Vaidya opened the second half with effective perimeter shooting, highlighted by a 3-pointer at the 17:31 mark that extended their lead. Northwestern-St. Paul attempted to close the gap with contributions from Will Foster, who scored consistently in the paint. However, Hamline maintained control with Ebel's steady inside presence, including a layup with 8:37 remaining, helping to build a substantial lead. Despite efforts from Nyamari for Northwestern-St. Paul, Hamline's offensive efficiency and defensive stops ensured a decisive 99-84 victory, as they outscored the home team 51-45 in the half.

Vaidya led the team with 21 points, including four 3-pointers, and added three rebounds. Ebel matched Vaidya's scoring with 21 points and converted 9 of 10 field goals while collecting eight rebounds. Dosmann contributed 17 points and secured eight rebounds, showing strong presence on the boards. Ethan Wall-Atim facilitated the offense with five assists and added six points and five rebounds.

The Pipers take on North Central in Minneapolis on Wednesday, November 12 for their next game, beginning at 7:30 PM.