ARDEN HILLS, MINN.--On Saturday, the Hamline University men's basketball team defeated Bethel 73-56 at the Robertson Center in Arden Hills.

The Pipers improve to 15-9, 11-4 MIAC, while the Royals fall to 11-12, 5-9 MIAC.

Hamline 73, Bethel 56

Hamline took control early, leading with a strong offensive performance. Austin Holt opened the scoring for the Pipers with a layup at 19:02, and Daniel McCarrell added to the lead with several layups, contributing to an early 6-2 advantage with 17:24 on the clock. Brendan Ebel's layup extended Hamline's lead to 16-9 at 12:47. Bethel struggled with turnovers, committing nine in the half, which Hamline capitalized on to build a 45-18 lead by the end of the half. Dominic Dosmann and Bradley Cimperman were instrumental in maintaining Hamline's momentum, each adding key baskets to their team's substantial lead.

The second half began with a series of free throw successes by Nick Burke of Bethel, quickly followed by a turnover and steal sequence that led to a fast-break layup by Adam Mattes at 19:05. Bradley Cimperman then initiated a scoring streak, hitting two consecutive 3-pointers, contributing significantly to Hamline's 10-point scoring run. Bethel responded with a 3-pointer from Blake Schmitz at 18:29, but Cimperman continued his offensive output with another 3-pointer, extending Hamline's lead. As the half progressed, Nick Burke led a brief Bethel resurgence with multiple successful free throws and layups, narrowing the gap slightly. Despite Bethel's efforts, Hamline maintained control, with Daniel McCarrell and Austin Holt adding to the score, culminating in a 73-56 victory for the Pipers.

Daniel McCarrell finished with 13 points, shooting 6-for-9 from the field and 1-for-4 from three-point range. Brendan Ebel contributed significantly with six assists and three steals, adding four points and four rebounds. Bradley Cimperman was the top scorer with 17 points, including four 3-pointers, and also recorded seven rebounds and two steals. Austin Holt provided a strong presence on the boards with nine rebounds and added nine points, while Camden Holecek's defensive efforts were highlighted by three steals, along with six points from two 3-pointers. The Pipers finished with 20 assists, and shot .426 (29-of-68) from the field.

Nick Burke led the Royals with an impressive scoring performance, posting 18 points on five-of-12 shooting from the field and seven-of-nine from the free-throw line. His contributions were highlighted by his team-leading field goals made and free throws made. Caden Boettcher stood out defensively, recording a team-high three blocks while also adding five rebounds. Blake Schmitz contributed significantly on the boards, collecting nine rebounds, the most on the team, while also scoring six points and adding a block and a steal. Colter Stone started strong with a ten-point contribution, shooting four-of-eight from the field, and grabbed four rebounds. JT Schradle displayed efficiency, making all four of his field-goal attempts, finishing with nine points and a block.

The Pipers will host St. Olaf at Hutton Arena for the 2024-25 regular season finale on Saturday, February 22 at 3 p.m.