Hamline cleans glass, downs MLC in Knights’ home opener
Trending
NEW ULM -- Cashing in at the charity stripe and dominating the glass, Hamline University spoiled Martin Luther College's home opener Tuesday night with an 80-57 win over the Knights in a nonconference men's basketball game.
The Pipers (1-1) made 21 of 30 free throws to the Knights' (0-3) 9 of 16. The Pipers also outrebounded the Knights 47-31.
Hamline shot 46.4% from the floor, while MLC shot 36.7%.
Micah Kieselhorst led the Knights with 20 points, while Thomas Balge added 13.
The Pipers were led by Daniel McCarrell's 21 points, while Bradley Cimperman had 18 points and 10 rebounds and Austin Holt had 15 points and 10 rebounds.
After a 3 from McCarrell gave the Pipers a 17-5 lead, MLC head coach Greg Holzhueter burned a timeout in attempts to break up a 10-0 Pipers run. A full-court press by the Knights started to create some Hamline turnovers before a mid-range jumper from Kieselhorst stopped an MLC scoring drought of nearly three and a half minutes.
Kieselhorst then drained a corner 3 to cut the MLC deficit to single digits, 17-10.
A driving layup from Christian Bachenberg had the Knights down 23-18, but Hamline got a layup from Blake Christensen and three consecutive 3s to lead 34-18 and force another MLC timeout with 7:47 left in the half.
Hamline led by as much as 18 in the first half, but the Knights cut the deficit to 12 late in the half on a pair of Kieselhorst buckets and a free throw apiece from Ezra Blumer and Seth Veers. Hamline led 47-32 at halftime after Holt knocked down a late 3.
The Pipers increased their lead to 51-32 early in the second half with layups from Holt and Cimperman. An and-one from Veers had the Knights down 53-40 with less than 15 minutes to play, but that was the closest the Knights could get from there out as the Pipers pulled away for the win. Hamline led by as much as 24 in the game.
Ezra Blumer added five assists for MLC, while Nathan Miller led all Knights on the boards with seven rebounds.
MLC hosts Finlandia at 3 p.m. this Saturday.