« Gross scores four goals to lead women’s hockey over Bethel, 6-2 | Main | Under the covers... with Molly Kirwan »
December 14, 2004
Men’s basketball ends slump with 90-89 non-conference win over Luther College
The Piper men’s basketball team continued their three-game slump by losing two conference challenges against Carleton and St. Thomas. But the Pipers were able to regain their composure in a come-from-behind battle to beat Luther College 90-89.
Hamline 90, Luther 89
The Pipers hosted Luther College on Dec. 9 and were able to get back on the winning track with a come-from-behind win, 90-89.
The Pipers trailed 50-37 at the end of the first half, but their persistence kept them in the game.
The Pipers exploded for a 13-5 run, led by junior Ryan Montgomery and sophomore Travis Jacobs, who each contributed four points. With just over three minutes left, Hamline took their first lead on a basket by junior Greg Koba, lighting the scoreboard at 80-78.
The teams traded leads in the final minutes of regulation, but Hamline had the final say with an in-bounds steal and dunk by junior Charley Good.
The Pipers shot 54 percent from the field and were led by Montgomery (24 points) and senior Brandon Aukes (23 points, five rebounds).
Good added 16 points and eight boards to the game, while Koba had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Carleton 90, Hamline 71
Hamline got off to a fast start against Augsburg by taking a 9-2 lead less than three minutes into the contest. But the Knights bounced back to go on a 17-2 run. This strong run by Carleton stymied the
Pipers, giving Carleton a 49-35 advantage at the half.
In the second half, things continued to go the Knights’ way, as they opened up the second half with a 20-6 run. The Knights fueled these runs with solid shooting, including 11-20 from behind the three-point line.
Junior Charley Good paced the Pipers, tying for a game highs in points (nine), and rebounds (five). The
Knights were led by Anthony Baquero, who topped all scorers with 24 points.
St. Thomas 77, Hamline 71
The Pipers took their game on the road two days later to St. Thomas. The Tommies relied on junior Danny Peterson and late-game free-throw shooting to keep the Pipers out of reach and take the win 77-71.
After a less-than-solid shooting performance in the first half (37 percent), which left them trailing 40-32, the Pipers were able to get things rolling in the second half. The Pipers shot 57 percent in the second half, led by first-year Joe Smock, who scored 17 of his game-high 24 points in the second half. Smock also shot 75 percent from behind the three-point line.
But it was the consistent play of the Tommies and Peterson’s reliable free-throw shooting that kept the
Pipers at bay as the Tommies were able to hold the Pipers at bay.
Big contributors for the Pipers again included Charley Good, who added 16 points and four rebounds, and senior Brandon Aukes, who added 10 points and six rebounds.
The Pipers next game is slated for Saturday afternoon, Dec. 18 against St. Scholastica.
It will be a home game hosted in Hutton arena; tip-off is set for 3:00.
Posted by msveum at December 14, 2004 10:55 AM