Men's basketball outlasts St. Scholastica

Sophomore forward Tony Thrasher celebrated his 20th birthday by netting a career-high 31 points on 13-of-22 shooting. Senior center Kyle Foster added 18 points and 21 rebounds for the Pipers.

Hamline (3-6) was outshot by the Saints (50 to 42.7 percent), but the Pipers held a 42-35 edge in rebounding and forced St. Scholastica into 18 turnovers.

The Pipers hit just 33 percent of their shots in the first half (13-39), but went into the break leading 35-34. In the second half, the Pipers heated up, shooting 52.8 percent (19-36).

A 12-5 run early in the second half sparked by seven points from Thrasher gave the Pipers a 58-50 lead. The Saints would cut the lead to three in the final minute, but Foster iced the game with a pair of free throws.

Junior Kory Kelzer added 11 points off the bench while sophomore Jon DeRock tallied 10 points for Hamline.

Derek Johnson paced the Saints wih 27 points. He was 7-of-16 from three-point range. William Maupins scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Brady Zubke added 14 points.

The Pipers will return to conference action Jan. 3 when they travel to Augsburg. Game time is set for 5:45 p.m.