It was a game that lived up to advance billing. In a battle of teams tied for first place at the start of the day, Hamline's men's basketball team went stride for stride with St. John's Wednesday night. The Johnnies' 13 three-pointers proved to be too much to overcome and the Pipers fell, 84-84, in overtime. 

Zach Smith scored 20 points and Kalu Abosi added 18 with a team, high seven rebounds. Isaac Brooks kicked in a dozen points and six rebounds and Ethan Scheuring contributed 11. 

With the largest crowd of the season at Hutton cheering them on, Hamline rebounded from an early 11-4 deficit to take a lead with seven minutes left in the first half. The margin expanded to eight at times and settled in with HU ahead by 38-34 at intermission. 

The Johnnies made several runs to get within a point but HU fought them off and held a 71-64 advantage with a minute left in the second half. SJU went on a 9-2 run to force the extra session. The Johnnies grabbed the lead early in overtime and had a 81-77 lead only to see Jay Betts hit two free throws and go end to end for layup to knot the game at 81. SJU scored five in a row but Abosi knocked the margin back to two with a three-pointer with 54 seconds left. The Pipers had two more chances but couldn't connect, ending their seven-game MIAC winning streak. 

Hamline shot 50.8 per cent for the game but fell to 10-5 overall, 7-3 in MIAC play. The latter number finds them in a three-way tie with St. Thomas and Bethel. On Saturday, the Pipers and Royals will break part of that deadlock when they meet in Arden Hills. Game time is 3:00 p.m.