It was the 1,000 consecutive Tommie men's basketball game over the last 38 years for Steve Fritz as a player (1967-71, assistant coach (1971-80) and head coach (1980-present). Fritz improved to 426-215 overall.
The Tommies (2-1 overall, 2-0 MIAC) shot 46% from the field (22-of-48) and 31-of-39 from the foul line, with Peterson converting 9-of-9. Sean Sweeney had 16 points, Isaac Rosefelt had 14 points and nine rebounds, and Joey Shimek had 12 points and six rebounds.
Hamline's Joe Smock had five 3-pointers in the second half and finished with a game-high 24 points. Brandon Aukes added 16 points and six rebounds and Charley Good added 14 points.
The Pipers trailed 40-32 at halftime. They pulled within 65-62 on Aukes' two free throws with 3:12 to play. But Sweeney drove for an off-balance layup with 2:52 left to push the lead to five, and Hamline was never closer again. Smock hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final 17 seconds but it wasn't enough.