A potential game-tying three-pointer rimmed out at the buzzer, giving St. Thomas a 66-63 win over Bethel in the championship game of the MIAC men's tournament on Sunday at Schoenecker Arena in St. Paul.
Jimmy Remke had 16 points to lead five players in double figures for the Tommies (24-3), who won their fourth conference playoff title in the past five years.
Brycen Wojta scored 21 points for the Royals (19-9), and Kyle Zimmermann had 14 points and 11 rebounds.
St. Thomas, which avenged an overtime loss to Bethel on Feb. 18 at Schoenecker, receives the MIAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.
Bethel and playoff semifinalist St. Olaf will learn their tournament fate when the entire field is announced at 11:30 a.m. Monday at ncaa.com.
The women's field will be announced at 1:30 p.m. St. Thomas earned the automatic bid on Saturday with a victory over Bethel.
NSIC quarterfinals
There were no surprises in the NSIC men's quarterfinals in Sioux Falls, S.D., with all the higher seeds advancing to Monday's semifinals.
Minnesota State Moorhead (31-2) will meet Minnesota State Mankato (24-6) in the first semifinal. On Sunday, Minnesota State Moorhead defeated Upper Iowa 94-87 behind a season-high 24 points from Tyler Vaughan and 23 points from Aaron Lien, and Minnesota State Mankato defeated St. Cloud State 96-74. Six Mavericks scored in double figures, and the team shot 50.7 percent from the field.
In the second semifinal, Augustana (28-2) will play Northern State (23-7). Augustana, behind 30 points and 15 rebounds from Casey Schilling, defeated Minnesota Duluth 71-62, and Northern State beat Concordia (St. Paul) 68-57.
The women's semifinals are also Monday in Sioux Falls.
news services
