Photo GalleryNORTHFIELD, Minn. - Bethel University defeated St. Olaf 75-67 in the semifinal round of the MIAC men's basketball playoffs on Friday night at Skoglund Center behind Kyle Zimmermann's 22 points and 12 rebounds.
St. Olaf was led by
Ben Figini, who had a season-best 31 points on 15-of-20 shooting.
Riley Aeikens added 16 points and
Justin Pahl 12 points in the loss for the Oles.
The Royals (19-8) had the Oles' number this season, handing St. Olaf (21-5) three of its five losses.
Figini had 15 points in the first half on 7-of-10 shooting. Aeikens had 11, going 4-for-5 from the field in the opening 20 minutes as the Oles shot 59.1 percent from the field on the way to a 37-35 lead at the break. Bethel was only 13-for-31 from the floor, but made 6-of-10 from the arc in the first half.
The Oles led by as many as 10 in the first half, at 29-19, but BU scored the next six on the way to a 14-4 run to tie it at 33-33. The Royals used a 10-2 run to break a 43-43 tie and the Oles never regained the lead. St. Olaf was within one three times but the Royals made their last six free throw attempts to ice the victory.
Bethel will meet St. Thomas in the MIAC championship game on Sunday afternoon in St. Paul. The Tommies (23-3) overcame a three-point deficit in the final minute and held off Gustavus 83-79 in overtime.
