Hamline’s Carl Hipp scored 20 points on 7-for-8 shooting in the second half to lead the Pipers past the Gustavus men’s basketball team 69-66 on Saturday afternoon in St. Paul. Hipp scored Hamline’s final six points of the game, giving the Pipers the three point victory and moving them into third place in the MIAC standings. Hamline improves to 15-7 overall and 11-6 in the MIAC, while the Gusties fall to 13-8 overall and 11-5 in the MIAC.
The Gusties shot just 32.1% (9-28) in the first half, yet led for the majority of the frame. Hamline shot 52.2% (12-23) as Ray Brown led all scorers in the half with 11 points (4-6). Gustavus’s largest lead of the half came at the 5:05 mark when Seth Anderson put the Gusties up 26-19 on a pair of free throws. Hamline closed the half with an 8-2 scoring run, and the Gusties led 30-29 at the halftime break.
Hamline took a one point lead (34-33) on a jumper by Hipp at the 17:51 point of the second half and would hold the advantage for over 11 minutes. Gustavus would re-take the lead at the 6:05 mark as freshman James Hill gave the Gusties a one point advantage at 58-57. Jumpers by Brown and Nick Carroll put Hamline back up 60-57, yet Hill answered with a game-tying three pointer (60-60) with 2:22 left in the game. A missed free throw by Hipp with :16 seconds on the clock gave the Gusties an opportunity to tie the game on the final possession. Strong ball pressure on the perimeter by the Pipers did allow for a good look at the basket, as Jesse Van Sickle was forced to take an off balance three pointer that went off the rim and out. Gustavus shot 48.3% (14-29) in the half, as James Hill scored 11-points (4-5). Hipp went 6-for-7 from the free throw line and brought down five rebounds, as the Pipers shot 54.2% (13-24).
Gustavus shot 40.4% (23-57) from the field in the game, while shooting 70% (7-10) from behind the arc. Two Gusties finished in double figures, as Whirjes and Hill scored 12 and 11 points, respectively. 49 of Hamline’s 66 points came from Brown and Hipp. Hipp registered a double-double with 29 points (11-13) and 12 rebounds, while Brown scored 20 points (7-11). The Pipers shot 53.2% (25-47) from the floor and 33.3% (5-15) from three point range. Gustavus won the turnover battle 7-14, as Pipers edged the Gusties in rebounds 31-30.
The Gustavus men’s basketball team will return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 12, against St. Olaf at 7:30pm in Northfield, Minn.