BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The 2023 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Men's Basketball Playoffs continued on Friday night with a pair of semifinal contests.
No. 1 Carleton pulled away from No. 6 Hamline, 68-51, in the first semifinal contest while No. 2 Saint John's topped No. 5 St. Olaf, 67-56, in the second. The Knights will now host the Johnnies in the MIAC Men's Basketball Playoff Championship game on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
NO. 1 CARLETON 68, NO. 6 HAMLINE 51 | Box Score |
Carleton rallied back from a four-point halftime deficit to defeat Hamline, 68-51, and secure its spot in the MIAC Playoff title game. The Knights were led by Luke Harris' 22-point effort on 8-for-10 shooting from the floor. Matt Banovetz tallied 18 rebounds to lead all players. Carleton limited the Pipers' one-two punch of Bradley Cimperman and Austin Holt to a combined 25 points in the game.
NO. 2 SAINT JOHN'S 67, NO. 5 ST. OLAF 56 | Box Score |
Led by Ryan Thissen's 24-point night, Saint John's moved past St. Olaf, 67-56, in Friday's semifinal round. Thissen went 10-for-16 from the floor and was a perfect 4-for-4 at the line. Mitchell Plombon added 15 points of his own, contributing 14 of the Johnnies' 42 points in the paint. St. Olaf first-year guard Kobe Kirk led all players with 25 points while shooting 9-for-16 from the field.
PLAYOFF CHAMPIONSHIP SET FOR SUNDAY
No. 1 Carleton and No. 2 Saint John's are now set to clash in Northfield on Sunday afternoon with the MIAC Playoff championship and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament on the line. Carleton is heading back to the MIAC title game for the first time since winning it all in 2010, while Saint John's will be making the program's fourth consecutive playoff championship appearance - and looking for a fourth straight playoff title.
Carleton swept the 2022-23 regular season series against Saint John's, with both games being decided by seven or fewer points. Saint John's holds a 3-1 posteason advantage over Carleton all-time, though the Knights won the last Playoff meeting between the two programs in 2008.
2023 MIAC MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Quarterfinals | Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 | 5:00 p.m. |
No. 6 Hamline 90, No. 3 Saint Mary's 84 (2OT) | Box Score |
No. 5 St. Olaf 56, No. 4 Macalester 54 | Box Score |
Semifinals | Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 | 7:00 p.m. |
No. 1 Carleton 68, No. 6 Hamline 51 | Box Score |
No. 2 Saint John's 67, No. 5 St. Olaf 56 | Box Score |
Championship | Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023 | 2:00 p.m. |
No. 2 Saint John's at No. 1 Carleton
GAME TIMES ARE TENTATIVE