Box Score Game Summary / GameDay Preivew

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Heading into Saturday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game against Hamline, one thing was perfectly clear to Saint Mary's University men's basketball coach Todd Landrum — the Pipers could score points in bunches.

Hamline entered Saturday's conference showdown averaging 81.1 points-per-game — and had scored 90 or more in three of its last four games.

And for 20 minutes, the Cardinals' defense smothered the high-flying Pipers, holding Hamline to just 35 first-half points as SMU went into the break leading by seven, 42-35.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the second half was a different story, as Hamline erupted for 50 points — while holding SMU to 24 — as the Pipers rallied for an 85-68 victory at Hutton Arena.

Will Wright (Chicago, Ill.) led the way for the Cardinals, scoring 22 points, while Chris Palmer (Faribault, Minn.) collected his fourth straight double-double, scoring 19 points and adding 12 rebounds.

Carl Hipp led a trio of Pipers in double figures, scoring 23 points and hauling in 16 boards. Mike Campbell added 16 points and Noah Aguirre finished with 11.

The Cardinals, who fall to 3-5 in the MIAC and 8-5 overall, return to action on Monday, traveling to Saint John's for a 7:30 p.m. conference game against the Johnnies.