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Gusties, Pipers headed to MIAC Men's Basketball Playoff Championship after incredible semifinal round – MIAC
Men’s Basketball
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The 2024 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Men’s Basketball Playoffs continued on Thursday night with a pair of semifinal contests.
In what may be the wildest semifinal round in MIAC Men’s Basketball Playoff history, No. 3 Gustavus and No. 4 Hamline advanced to the championship game thanks to a pair of incredible finishes. Hamline defeated No. 1 seed Saint John’s, 83-80, on a three-point buzzer beater in Collegeville, while Gustavus rallied in double-overtime to top No. 2 Carleton, 124-116, in what was the highest-scoring playoff game in conference history. The Gusties will now host the Pipers in the MIAC Men’s Basketball Playoff Championship game on Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m.
NO. 4 HAMLINE 83, NO. 1 SAINT JOHN’S 80 | Box Score |
Bradley Cimperman connected on a long three-point shot as time expired to send Hamline to its first MIAC Basketball Playoff championship since 1985 with an 83-30 upset victory over regular season champion Saint John’s on Thursday night in Collegeville. SJU’s Blake Berg had tied the game at 80 with a three-pointer of his own just four seconds earlier before Cimperman drove down the court to give Hamline perhaps the program’s biggest win in nearly 40 years. Berg led all scorers with 28 points on 9-of-11 shooting in the game, while the Pipers’ Cimperman and Austin Holt turned in 26- and 24-point performances, respectively. Holt also added 12 rebounds for a double-double.
NO. 3 GUSTAVUS 124, NO. 2 CARLETON 116 (2OT) | Box Score |
In the highest-scoring game in MIAC Men’s Basketball Playoff history, No. 3 Gustavus outlasted No. 2 Carleton, 124-116, in double-overtime to not only move on but host the 2024 MIAC Playoff Championship game. The game was the fourth double-overtime game in MIAC Men’s Basketball Playoff history and the second in as many seasons. Gustavus guard Brady Kienitz scored 30 points to lead the Gusties. Half of that production came from beyond the arc. Gustavus forward Wyatt Olson posted 15 points and 17 rebounds for a double-double. Carleton guard Luke Harris led all scorers with 33 points while shooting 55 percent (11-for-20) from the field and 78.6 percent (11-for-14) from the line. Carleton forward Matt Banovetz tallied a double-double of his own with 21 points and 10 boards.
PLAYOFF CHAMPIONSHIP SET FOR SATURDAY
No. 3 Gustavus and No. 4 Hamline are now set to clash in St. Peter on Saturday evening with the MIAC Playoff championship and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Tournament on the line. Hamline is making its second MIAC Playoff appearance in program history and the Pipers’ first since 1985. Gustavus is back in the Playoff championship for the 16th time in program history and the Gusties’ first title game since 2011. Gustavus has won nine playoff titles with their last coming in 2005. This will be the first-ever postseason meeting between the Gusties and Pipers. The two squads split their regular season series earlier this winter with each team winning at home.
| 2024 MIAC Men’s Basketball Playoffs |
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