ST. PAUL, Minn. – Spencer Goetz poured in a career-best 18 points and both Luke Harris and Matt Banovetz tallied game highs of 21 points in leading the Carleton College men's basketball team to a 79-69 win at then-second place Hamline University. With the victory, the Knights (14-8, 11-6 MIAC) clinched a berth in the upcoming six-team MIAC Playoffs
 
The first half of play witnessed a tale of two different offenses. Fifteen of Hamline's (13-9, 11-6 MIAC) 27 shots came from behind the arc, knocking down five of them. On the other side, Carleton only attempted six 3-pointers the entire half, canning three of them. The score stayed close until the final minute and a half of the opening stanza, when Hamline drilled back-to-back triples to give the Pipers a 39-32 advantage at the break. The Knights, who average only 10 turnovers per game, handed the ball over to the Pipers seven times during the first 20 minutes of action.
 
Hamline still led 44-38 less than two minutes into the second half, but Banovetz scored seven points during Carleton's subsequent 9-0 run that pushed the Knights ahead for good.
 
The margin stayed between one and three points over the next five minutes before another Banovetz 3-pointer started an 11-3 run that opened up some breathing room for Carleton. The Knights' offense shot 60.7 percent in the second half while the defense limited Hamline to only 37.1 percent over the same stretch. The lead grew as large as 15 on multiple occasions.
 
Banovetz finished one rebound shy of his second consecutive double-double while notching his ninth consecutive double-digit scoring effort. Harris dished out five assists and recorded his 13th game of 20-plus points this season. Goetz tied his season high with five steals, while going 8-of-10 from the field and 2-of-2 at the charity stripe.
 
Hamline's Daniel McCarrell led the team in scoring with 15, and his counterpart, Austin Holt recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards, along with four assists.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton takes its last road trip of the regular season when the Knights travel to Arden Hills, Minn., on Saturday, February 10 (special 1 PM tipoff) to take on Bethel University. Carleton will then return home for the final two games before heading to the postseason.