Hamline Men’s Basketball has experienced a week of peaks and valleys, coming together for a statement game on Saturday at Hutton Arena with Hamline (6–2, 1–1 MIAC) delivering a strong second-half performance in a 94–84 victory over Macalester.
After trailing 51–37 at halftime, the Pipers flipped the game with defensive pressure and efficient offense, outscoring the Scots 57–33 after the break and scoring 18 points off turnovers.
Macalester controlled much of the first half, building a double-digit lead behind sharp perimeter shooting. Hamline stayed within reach through key plays from Senior Guards Brendan Ebel and Brock Donaldson, but entered the locker room staring at a 14-point deficit.
The second half told a different story. Raoul Vaidya, Junior Guard, opened the half with a three-pointer that set the tone, and Hamline’s defense began to dictate the pace.
Ebel delivered one of his strongest all-around performances of the season, finishing with 25 points and 11 rebounds.
Vaidya added 18 points, including three from long range, while Jake DeDominces, First-year Guard, contributed 16 points and a perfect night at the free-throw line. Hamline’s balanced scoring and physical rebounding helped them pull away down the stretch, with Vaidya’s late free throws sealing the win.
Earlier in the week, the Pipers traveled to Saint Peter for a tightly contested matchup against Gustavus Adolphus. Hamline built early momentum, jumping out to an 11–2 lead and controlling much of the first half.
A dunk by Ebel and a late three-pointer before the halftime buzzer helped the Pipers carry a 39–26 advantage into the break.
The second half flipped the script. Gustavus steadily chipped away at the lead, eventually overtaking Hamline behind timely shooting and strong play in the final minutes.
Despite late efforts from Vaidya and strong interior play from Dominic Dosmann, Senior Forward, and Dane DeDominces, Junior Guard, Hamline came up just short in a 70–65 loss.
Vaidya led the Pipers with 22 points in the game, while DeDominces grabbed 13 rebounds and Dosmann added 10 points and two blocks. Ethan Wall-Atim rounded out the effort with nine points and nine rebounds.
Head coach Jim Hayes said via email that the represented growth beyond the final scores. “We stayed focused on the process of improving as a group every day.”
“Continuing to understand what our identity is with Hamline Basketball and trusting in each other that if we stay true to who we are, we can succeed at a high level!” Hayes said via email.
The strong performance in the game against Macalester shows the growth, and the adjustment of the aftermath against Gustavus is a reflection of how the team can adapt. This ability is a demonstration that reflects the team’s resilience and how they can stand tall and close out a game with a major point deficit in both ways.
With a split week behind them, the Pipers now turn their focus to tightening their execution and building on the resilience they showed. Through both adversity and success, Hamline continues to develop a team built on trust, effort, and a clear sense of identity.
