NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Isaac Tessier (Fy./White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake) poured in a game-high 25 points and Kent Hanson (Sr./St. Paul, Minn./St. Paul Academy) contributed his 20th career double-double while moving into fourth place on Carleton College's all-time scoring list, but the Knights fell behind early and never recovered in a 77-64 setback against No. 9-ranked University of St. Thomas.
 
Carleton (7-8, 4-6 MIAC) returned to West Gym after playing 11 of the previous 13 games on the road. The Knights struggled to find their shooting touch early and missed eight consecutive shots to begin the game, while St. Thomas (12-2, 8-1 MIAC) was racing out to a 10-0 lead. Carleton got no closer than eight points the rest of the way.
 
Four Knights scored in double digits, with Hanson stuffing the stat sheet with 10 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block. He moved past Dan Forkrud on Carleton's all-time scoring chart and now has 1,470 career points (SEE CHART BELOW).
 
This was Tessier's third game this season with at last 20 points. He added six rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Beck Page (Fy./Longmont, Colo./Longmont) made his first collegiate start, scoring 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, while Jeremy Beckler chipped in 11 points. The Knights were without the services of starting forward Alex Battist (So./Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) due to injury.
 
St. Thomas led by as many as 23 points late in the first half before Tessier scored six consecutive points to close the period. On the final possession of the half, Hanson drove into the paint, pivoted around defenders, and passed to an open Tessier, who sunk a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded. The Knights entered halftime trailing 45-28.
 
Tessier drained another 3-pointer to start the second half, capping his personal 9-0 run.
 
St. Thomas extended the lead back out to 53-35 with 15:18 still on the clock before Tessier and Henry Bensen (Sr./Roseville, Minn./Roseville) combined on another 9-0 spurt that brought Carleton to within 53-44 with 12:35 remaining. The Knights got no closer despite holding St. Thomas scoreless over the final 5:50 of the contest.
 
Riley Miller and Burt Hedstrom tallied season bests of 22 and 16 points, respectively, to lead St. Thomas, which shot 42 percent for the game but only 32 percent in the second half.
 
Carleton shook off the early shooting woes and made 48 percent of its field goals over the remainder of the contest to finish at 42 percent overall.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE KNIGHTS: Carleton has reached the halfway point in the conference season and hosts Saint Mary's University on Monday, Jan. 20 at 7:00 p.m. Live video and stats will be available via athletics.carleton.edu.
 
MOST CAREER POINTS – CARLETON MEN'S BASKETBALL
1. -- 2,029 -- Zach Johnson (106 G) -- 2005-09
2. -- 1,967 -- Josh Wilhelm (97 G) -- 1995-99
3. -- 1,903 -- Gerrick Monroe (105 G) -- 1989-93
4. -- 1,470 -- Kent Hanson (89 G) -- 2016-pres.
5. -- 1,467 -- Dan Forkrud  (108 G) -- 2002-06
6. -- 1,445 -- Kyle Beste (105 G) -- 2001-05
7. -- 1,440 -- Ivan Grimm (64 G) -- 1958-60
8. -- 1,423 -- Kevin Grow (103 G) -- 2014-18
9. -- 1,366 -- Scott Krohn (105 G) -- 1989-93
10. -- 1,356 -- Mark Wandmacher (70 G) -- 1981-84