ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College men's basketball team trailed by as many as 20 points in the first half of a 73-57 loss at Hamline University in a MIAC game Wednesday evening at Hutton Arena. The Scots fall to 8-4 overall and 5-3 in the conference, while the Pipers improve to 9-4, 5-3 MIAC.
Early in the first half, a three-pointer by sophomore guard
Marcus Crawford (Edina, Minn./Edina) brought the Scots to within two, 10-8 with 12:19 on the clock. Hamline reeled off the next 10 points to spark an 18-2 run for a 28-10 advantage. The lead grew to 20, 34-14 before five points from sophomore guard
Coby Gold (Denver, Colo./Kent Denver) and a free throw by sophomore forward
Badou Ba (Dakar, Senegal/Williston Northampton) made the halftime score 36-20. The Scots managed to shoot just 25.0 percent from the field in the first half compared to 48.5 percent for the Pipers.
A three-pointer by junior guard
Caleb Williams (Wild Rose, Wis./Wild Rose) to start the half, coupled with a free throw from sophomore guard
Robert Grace IV (Minneapolis, Minn./The Blake School), cut the deficit to 12, 36-24 early in the second half. After Hamline pushed the lead back up to 17, a layup by Williams and a three-pointer from first year forward
Noah Shannon (Northfield, Ill./New Trier) made it a 12-point game again, 41-29 with 17:26 remaining. The Pipers continued to shoot the ball well, eventually regaining its 20-point lead, 53-33 with 11:47 on the clock. A 13-2 run by the Scots, including five points by Gold and three points apiece from Williams and Crawford, reduced the lead to nine, 55-46 at the 8-minute mark. That's as close as Macalester would get, as the Pipers led by as many as 19 points down the stretch before securing a 73-57 win.
The Scots shot better in the second half at 41.9 percent, but allowed Hamline to make 51.9 percent from the floor after halftime. Williams led Macalester with 21 points and six rebounds while hitting four three-pointers. Gold finished with 17 points, five boards, three assists and two steals. Austin Holt registered 21 points and 21 rebounds to lead Hamline.
The Scots will face MIAC-leading Carleton on Saturday, January 14 on the road. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. in Northfield, Minn.
