The Tommies earned the early lead in the game, but Mike Campbell (Jr., Burnsville, Minn.) gave Hamline their first advantage at 14:56, 9-8, when he converted on an "and 1."

Tyler Nicolai answered with a St. Thomas trey, but Campbell put up another layup for the Piper lead at 12-11. 

Tyler Pannell (Fy., Portland, Ore.) followed that up with a shot from outside the arc, and the Pipers opened up a run that put them up by 19, 43-24, with 2:44 to play in the first half.

The Tommies closed the gap to 10 at the half, however, 45-35.

The hosts then pulled from that momentum to start the second half, and got to within one point, 49-48, within the opening six minutes. St. Thomas then hit a jumper at 13:25 for their first lead since the opening minutes, 50-49.

It remained a one or two-point game over the next several minutes until St. Thomas went up by five, 70-65, with 2:10 to play. After that, Hamline could only get within one possession, 73-70, with 27 seconds to play before having to send St. Thomas to the free throw line, where they collected five free throws for the 78-70 win.

In addition to Hipp's huge double-double, Campbell tallied 18 points. Hipp also had three blocks.

The Pipers are now 16-11 overall after posting a 13-7 MIAC record during the regular season. St. Thomas is 23-3 overall and had a record of 17-3 in the MIAC during the regular season.