ST. PAUL – The University of Northwestern men's basketball team made a late push, but the red-hot visiting Pipers of Hamline University took the season opener for both squads by a final of 88-78 inside the Ericksen Center Tuesday night.  

Hamline was lights out in the first half, using a blistering 66.67 shooting percentage from the field to jump out to a 49-34 halftime lead. Aaron Youngberg (Pocahontas, Iowa/Pocahontas Area) and Anderson Bazile Jr. (Houston, Tex./San Antonio Reagan) each dropped nine in the opening 20 minutes of the season to pace the Eagles.

Trailing by 16 with 11:02 to play in the second, the Eagles went on a 6-0 run to trim the deficit to 10 at the 9:18 mark. Hamline kept its double-digit cushion until the Eagles cut the lead to nine with 1:01 to play, but it was too little too late, as they dropped the season opener.

Anderson Bazile Jr. (Houston, Tex./San Antonio Reagan) and Aaron Youngberg (Pocahontas, Iowa/Pocahontas Area) finished with 14 points apiece, while Caleb Hageman (Charles City, Iowa/Charles City) poured in 13 to reach double figures. Will Gisler (Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville) grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds and Porter Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Home School) dished out three assists. In his Northwestern debut, Brady Peterson (Princeton, Minn./Homeschool) drilled a trio of 3-pointers to finish with nine points.  

Northwestern shot 38.2 percent from the field and struggled from long distance, hitting just 8-of-35 (22.9 percent), while Hamline finished the night 54.1 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from 3-point land.

Hamline's Zach Smith led all scorers with 27 points.

Tuesday's contest marked the first of seven consecutive home games for UNW. They will host Trinity Bible and Central College Friday and Saturday, respectively. More information can be found at www.unweagles.com.