ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College men's basketball team fell to Hamline University, 71-49 in a MIAC contest Monday evening in the Leonard Center. The loss gives the Scots a 3-14 record on the season, including a 1-11 mark in league play. The Pipers are now 4-12, 2-9 MIAC.

Hamline controlled play for most of the first half, building a 19-8 lead over the first 12 minutes. A conventional three-point play by first year guard Michael Gutierrez (Stillwater, Minn./St. Croix Prep Academy), combined with baskets from first year forward Wyatt Ferm (Farmington, Minn./Farmington) and junior guard Jordan Black-Matthews (Dallas, Tex./Covenant Christian), cut the deficit to four, 19-15 with six minutes left in the half. But the Pipers closed out the half with a 15-6 run to take a 34-21 advantage into the halftime break. The Scots shot 30.0 percent from the field in the first half compared to 48.3 percent for Hamline.

Early in the second half, Macalester made a push to get back in the game. A three from senior guard Kyle Bernhard (Sleepy Hollow, Ill./Dundee-Crown) sparked a 9-2 run that made the score 38-30 Pipers with 16:17 remaining. Again Hamline responded, reeling off a 16-4 spree to take a commanding 54-34 lead midway through the second half. The Scots never came closer than 13 points the rest of the way despite shooting 54.5 percent from the field after halftime, as the Pipers ended a 10-game losing streak. Turnovers plagued Macalester, with Hamline turning 17 Scot miscues into 23 points.

Black-Matthews had a solid all-around game, scoring a team-leading 12 points to go with five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Junior center Kareem Ismail (Pasadena, Calif./Flintridge Prep) had 10 points, while Ferm grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Connor Knutson hit four threes and finished with a game-high 18 points for Hamline.

Macalester hosts MIAC foe St. Thomas on Wednesday, Jan. 27, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Leonard Center.