ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College men's basketball team lost a thriller to Hamline University, 62-61 in a MIAC game Wednesday evening in Hutton Arena. The loss drops the Scots to 2-7 overall and 0-5 in conference play, while the Pipers improve to 5-4, 3-2 MIAC.
With Macalester trailing 61-56 with 5:38 remaining, a conventional three-point play by senior forward
Wyatt Ferm (Farmington, Minn./Farmington), followed by a steal and layup by Ferm on the next possession, tied the score at 61-61 with 2:50 to play. After each team failed to score on its next two possessions, Hamline's Connor Knutson was fouled and made one of his two free throws for a 62-61 lead with 42 seconds left. Both teams committed turnovers, giving the ball back to Macalester. With time winding down, Ferm was double-teamed and put up a contested three that glanced off the rim at the buzzer.
Early in the first half, the Scots used an 18-2 run to take control of the game with a 27-10 lead at the 6:51 mark. Six different players scored in the run, with sophomore center
Jackson Henningfield (Lake Mary, Fla./Lyman) and first year guard
Eric Sathy (Cupertino, Calif./Homestead) each scoring five points. Hamline closed out the half by outscoring the Scots, 15-7 to cut the lead to nine, 34-25 at the break.
Momentum stayed with the visitors at the start of the second half, with Macalester scoring the first seven points of the period to lead 41-25. The Pipers responded in a big way with a 19-2 spree capped by a three from Knutson to put Hamline on top, 44-43 with just under 14 minutes to play. The lead grew to as many as six before Ferm and the Scots came back to tie it, only to come up short down the stretch.
Macalester out-rebounded Hamline, 40-33 and shot 43.9 percent from the field compared to 36.7 percent for the Pipers. But the hosts were 10-of-13 from the free throw line, while the Scots made just four trips to the charity stripe for the game.
Ferm turned in a solid all-around effort with 20 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals. Henningfield finished with 13 points and seven boards, while junior guard
Nikhil Smith (Augusta, Ga./Lakeside) had 10 points and two steals. Sathy and sophomore guard
Gabriel Ramos (Dorado, Puerto Rico/Tasis Dorado) each scored eight points, with Ramos adding seven rebounds and three assists. Knutson led all players with 26 points while making six three-pointers.
Macalester's next game will be Dec. 30 at Northland College. The non-conference contest begins at 1:00 p.m. in Ashland, Wis.
