BOX SCORE
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Bethel University shot 54 percent Saturday against Hamline University, but it wasn't enough as 29 turnovers led to the 77-71 loss to the visiting Pipers. The matinee contest witnessed numerous runs for both teams; however, in the end it was HU that was victorious.
In the opening period Hamline took the early lead, when owning the 14-8 advantage five minutes into the frame. The Royals stormed back when
Daniel Baah (Sr., Farmington, Minn.) triggered an 8-3 run with a 15-foot baseline jumper that brought BU within one. Again the Pipers stretched its lead to six with 9:34 left to play in the period, only to let Bethel come back to take the lead on nine unanswered points. The Royals grabbed its biggest lead of the game on a John De Cleene (So., De Pere, Wis.) dunk, putting BU ahead 38-32. Bethel surrendered 11 consecutive points to the Pipers allowing HU to claim the 43-38 advantage at the half.
Both teams fired 16 points in the paint throughout the first period, although, Hamline truly took advantage by outscoring BU 21-4 in the paint.
JD Robinson (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) was wet from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, draining four-of-five shots, including three-of-four from downtown for 11 first half points and four rebounds.
Taylor Hall (Jr., Blaine, Minn.) also contributed three-of-four shots and a perfect four-for-four from the charity stripe for 10 first-half points.
Hamline stretched its lead early in the second half to 13 points with just under 15 minutes to play. Bethel wouldn't quit though, rattling off a 14-4 run that narrowed HU's marginal lead to three points with 7:44 to play. Trailing 56-59, the Royals could not muster the points necessary to close the gap as the Pipers regained its comfortable lead with a 6-0 run that gave HU the 65-56 lead with just over five minutes to play. Despite closing the gap to four points in two minutes, BU still fell in the end 77-71.
The Royals outscored the Pipers 24-18 in points in the paint throughout the final period thanks in part to
Taylor Hall, who finished with 20 second-half points. Hall was 9-for-12 from the floor in his 16 minutes played in the second period.
Kellan Dahlquist worked in the paint as well, accumulating five points and five rebounds.
BU finished the game with a field goal mark of 53.7 percent, hitting 29-of-54 shots from the floor.
Taylor Hall led all players with 30 points and three rebounds, finishing 12-of-16 and six-of-seven from the charity stripe.
Kellan Dahlquist finished with seven points and 11 rebounds, while Robinson and Baah finished with 11 and nine, respectively. The Royals worked the ball inside as often as they could, finishing with 40 points in the paint, which was six points above Hamline.
Bethel will now face St. Thomas Monday evening for a MIAC matchup featuring the NCAA Division III defending champions in Saint Paul, Minn. After losing four close games in a row, by a margin of 12 or less, the Royals will look to prove that they can still compete with any team in the conference. Tip-off Monday night is set for 7:30 p.m.
