ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College men's basketball team fell to Hamline University, 90-74 in the season finale Saturday afternoon at Hutton Arena. The Scots end the 2016-17 campaign with a 9-16 record overall, including a 5-15 mark in the conference. The Pipers (14-11, 11-9 MIAC) finished fifth in the conference to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in six years.

Hamline broke open a close game with 15 consecutive points midway through the first half for a 28-12 advantage with 9:20 on the clock. Ten points from senior center Kareem Ismail (Pasadena, Calif./Flintridge Prep) sparked a 12-4 Macalester run that made the score 32-24 Pipers with 4:36 remaining in the half. Late in the half, a three from Connor Knutson gave Hamline a 43-30 lead. A pair of free throws from sophomore forward Tyler Seaberg (Chattanooga, Tenn./Baylor School) and a half-court three-pointer by senior guard Dylan Kilgour (La Crescenta, Calif./Crescenta Valley) at the buzzer made the halftime score 43-34 Hamline.

At the start of the second half, sophomore guard Michael Gutierrez (Stillwater, Minn./St. Croix Prep Academy) made two three-pointers and Kilgour added another as the Scots cut the deficit to six, 49-43 with 17 minutes left. But the Pipers answered with 11 straight points, including six points from Isaac Brooks, to build a commanding 60-43 lead with 14 minutes to play. Macalester came as close as 10 points following two threes from Gutierrez midway through the half, but it was not enough to prevent Hamline from completing the season sweep.

The Pipers outscored the Scots, 50-32 in the paint while shooting 60.7 percent from the field for the game. Ismail registered 20 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, and Kilgour had 16 points, four boards and three assists, as the seniors played in their final collegiate games. Gutierrez finished with four threes and 14 points to go with three assists and two steals. Sophomore forward Wyatt Ferm (Farmington, Minn./Farmington) grabbed 13 rebounds to go with eight points. TC Robinson led Hamline with 18 points, five assists and five steals.

The game marked the final game for seniors Ismail, Kilgour, Jordan Black-Mathews (Dallas, Texas/Covenant Christian) and Zach Gullerud (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley).