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WINONA, Minn. — Just two days after draining a team- and career-high 18 points against Carleton, Saint Mary's University's Ronnie Ortiz (Dayton, Ohio) was at it again Wednesday evening, as the freshman led the Cardinals in scoring for the second straight game.

Unfortunately, Ortiz's team-best 14-point effort was not enough, as Hamline used a game-ending 10-2 run — including the last seven points in regulation — as the Pipers held off SMU 69-65 at the SMU Gym.

For the first 12 minutes of the opening half, the Cardinals could do no wrong, as SMU scored 22 of the game's first 32 points to race out to what appeared to be a commanding 22-10 advantage.

Over the final 8:12 of the half, however, it was the Pipers who could do no wrong, as Hamline used in 15-5 burst to cut SMU's lead to two, 27-25, with 2:40 to play, and then closed out the half on an 8-2 run to take a four-point advantage into the locker room at the break, 35-31.

Hamline quickly pushed its lead to six twice in the first two minutes of the second half, but the Cardinals answered, grabbing its first lead of the half, 43-41, with 15 minutes remaining.

SMU would push its lead to as many as six on two separate occasions — the second at 56-50 with 8:52 on the clock. Hamline would regain the lead, 57-57, but again the Cardinals answered, getting two free throws and a 3-pointer from Evan Pederson (Onalaska, Wis.) and a free throw from Will Swiggum (St. Charles, Minn.) to take a 63-59 with just over four minutes left.

But an Aaron Romportl (Stillwater, Minn.) layup would be SMU's only field goal over those final four minutes, as Hamline grabbed the lead for good, 66-65 and took advantage of an SMU turnover and missed 3-pointer to secure the win.

Along with Ortiz's 14 points, the Cardinals — who shot 42 percent from the field (22-for-53) — also got 13 points from Pederson and nine points from Wylie Ferron (Waconia, Minn.).

Bennett Cooper poured in a game-high 16 points to lead four Pipers in double figures, while Marshall Jestings chipped in 15 points, and Austin Johnson and Dior Ford added 14 and 12 points, respectively.

The Cardinals return to action on Saturday, as SMU is back on its home court for a 3 p.m. conference showdown with Gustavus.