12/16/06

Senior Derek Johnson broke out of a mini-slump with 27 points Saturday afternoon at Hamline University, more than doubling his 12 point average over the past seven games, but it wasn’t quite enough as the Pipers handed the Saints an 85-81 defeat behind 31 points from Tony Thrasher.

First half action in the non-conference game went back and fourth with five ties and 11 lead changes but the Pipers eventually gained the advantage taking a 35-34 lead into the intermission.

Hamline started the second half off with a 3-pointer but after the teams exchanged baskets the Saints were ablte to knot things up at 41-41 on a Brady Zubke jumper. The Pipers then went on a 5-0 run to regain the lead and momentum.

Over the rest of the half, the Hamline lead lingered in the five to six point range but twice the Saints trimmed the lead to three only to have the Pipers follow with two more 5-0 runs to take the wind out of the St. Scholastica sails and eventually finish off the home win for the MIAC school.

Zubke finished with 14 points and six rebounds for the Saints while Will Maupins registered his second double-double of the season – in addition to a pair of triple-double games – with 16 points and 11 boards in the losing effort. Johnson, Zubke and Maupins combined for 57 points while the rest of the Saints added only 24.

The loss for the Saints (3-7 overall, 1-0 UMAC) was especially difficult to take as they had one of their better shooting games from the field. After a first half where they shot 44 percent they followed in the second with a strong 57 percent showing from the floor. Johnson hit seven three’s as the team shot 50 percent from behind the arc.

But 18 turnovers that Hamline ( 3-6, 1-3 MIAC) converted for 24 points, and Thrashers game-high 31, may have done the Saints in.