UW-RIVER FALLS GETS PAST HAMLINE UNIVERSITY

ST. PAUL, Minn. (December 30, 2008) –A late-game surge by the visiting UW-River Falls Falcons gave them an 81-76 victory over Hamline University in non-conference men’s basketball action on Tuesday night.

The Pipers took an early lead and held it for much of the first half, until a three-point shot from the Falcons’ Aaron Anderson (Fy., Stillwater, Minn.) gave River Falls their first lead, 27-26, at 3:11.

Hamline quickly regained the advantage on the scoreboard and held a 33-30 lead with 11 seconds to go, when Anderson completed a three-point play on a layup and free throw to tie the game.

The Pipers’ Brandon Hayes (Sr., Bloomington, Minn.) responded with two free throws with 4.5 seconds on the clock to put the Pipers back up 35-33. The Falcons attempted to put together a scoring play off of the in-bounds pass, but lost the ball at half court, allowing the hosts to hold onto the halftime lead.

Anderson led the Falcons with nine first-half points. Tanner Anderson (Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) had eight first half points for the Pipers, including two baskets sunk from outside the arc. Carl Hipp (So., Little Canada, Minn.) also had eight points in the opening 20 minutes.

The second half was a different story, as the two teams traded ties and leads in the first 12 minutes of play. However, River Falls took the lead, 60-58, with just over seven and a half minutes to play in the game, and never relinquished it.

Jake Voeltz (So., River Falls, Wis.) led the Falcons with a double-double, scoring 22 points and pulling in 12 rebounds. Anderson ended the game with 13 points for the Falcons, while Jontae Koonkaew (So., Apple Valley, Minn.) had 18 points.

Anderson and Eric Clute (So., Hawley, Minn.) had 15 points each to lead the Pipers. Dan Anderson (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.) had 13 points, including going 3-for-4 from outside the arc.

With the non-conference loss, the Pipers are 3-5, 2-2 MIAC, while the Falcons are now 8-4, 2-1 WIAC. The Pipers will return to MIAC play on Saturday, January 3, for a 3:00 p.m. game at Carleton.

Hamline University belongs to the NCAA Division III Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, one of the most competitive conferences in the nation. Hamline supports 19 intercollegiate athletic teams for men and women. Find out more about Hamline athletics at www.hamline.edu/athletics.

Creative and innovative teaching and learning attract a diverse student body of nearly 4,600 undergraduate and graduate students to Hamline University. Challenged to create and apply knowledge in local and global contexts, Hamline students develop an individual and community ethic of social justice, civic responsibility, and inclusive leadership and service.

Ranked first in Minnesota among comprehensive master’s universities by U.S.News & World Report, Hamline is also Minnesota’s first university, founded in 1854, and among the first co-educational institutions in the nation.