ST. PAUL - The Martin Luther College men's basketball team could not take advantage of a regulation buzzer beater that forced overtime in an 81-74 loss at Hamline University on Wednesday.

The two teams went back and forth throughout the night, but the Pipers looked to have the game in hand with a 68-65 lead in the final seconds until Jacob Price hit a three-pointer from the top of the key with 0.5 seconds left to force the extra period.

MLC was unable to take advantage of the momentum, however, as the Pipers held them to only six points in the extra period, allowing Hamline to build a lead and ultimately clinch the game at the free throw line down the stretch.

The Pipers closed the first half on a 7-0 run to take a 34-29 halftime lead, and continued to lead for much of the second half. 

The Knights continued to fight, however, with their full court pressure defense forcing Hamline miscues while the offense continued to get quality looks near the basket. 

Ezra Blumer gave the Knights a 65-64 lead with just over one minute to play in regulation, but Hamline erased that with four straight points before Price's three-pointer forced overtime in the final second.

The Knights pushed the pace and did much of their damage from inside on dribble drives that led to 40 points in the paint, while Hamline shot 8-22 from beyond the three-point arc, including four from downtown by big man Cooper Berg to start the second half. 

Blumer led MLC with 22 points. Micah Kieselhorst and Jack Heichelbech added 16 and 15 points, respectively. Blumer and Price each finished with a team-high eight rebounds. 

MLC fell to 0-5 with the loss. The win pushed Hamline to 1-2 on the season. 

The Knights will return to action on Saturday, November 20, when they host MSOE in a game scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m.