ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College men's basketball team shot 58.3 percent from three-point range to defeat St. Scholastica, 79-66 in the first round of the MIAC Playoffs Saturday afternoon in front of a boisterous crowd in the Leonard Center. The Scots improve to 13-12 overall and advance to the quarterfinals to face third-seeded Carleton on Tuesday. The Saints end their season with a 5-21 record.
The result marks the first postseason victory for the Scots since 2004.
Macalester broke open a close game in the first half, turning a one-point deficit into a 13-point lead with a 20-6 run that made the score 39-26 with under two minutes on the clock. The run included three three-pointers from first year guard
Coby Gold (Denver, Colo./Kent Denver), dunks from senior center
Shane Anderson (Fargo, N.D./Davies) and sophomore guard
Caleb Williams (Wild Rose, Wis./Wild Rose), and nine points by Williams. St. Scholastica scored three points before the break, as the Scots took a 39-29 advantage into halftime.
In the second half, Macalester continued to shoot well, protecting its double-digit lead. With the score 60-50 midway through the half, a three-pointer from senior guard
Gabriel Ramos (Dorado, Puerto Rico/Tasis Dorado) and a three and a layup by Williams pushed the lead up to 18, 68-50 with 7:35 remaining. St. Scholastica came as close as 10 points twice the rest of the way, as Macalester wrapped up its third win over the Saints this season and won its 13th game of the year.
The Scots shot 7-of-12 from beyond the arc in each half, tying their season high of 14 three-pointers made. Williams poured in a career-high 30 points while making four of his five three-point attempts and all eight of his free throw attempts. Gold drained 6-of-9 from deep en route to 20 points to go with six rebounds. Ramos registered a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds to go with seven assists. Bolstering the defense was first year forward
Badou Ba (Dakar, Senegal/Williston Northampton), who blocked a career-best five shots and grabbed five rebounds. Connor Bich led St. Scholastica with 15 points.
Macalester, the No. 6 seed, heads to Northfield to take on third-seeded Carleton on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 7:00 p.m.
2022 MIAC Men's Basketball Playoffs - Feb. 19-26
First Round, Saturday, Feb. 19
No. 6 Macalester 79, No. 11 St. Scholastica 66
No. 7 Bethel 82, No. 10 Concordia 63
No. 8 Hamline 89, No. 9 Saint Mary's 64
Quarterfinals, Tuesday, Feb. 22
No. 8 Hamline at No. 1 Saint John's, 7:00 p.m.
No. 6 Macalester at No. 3 Carleton, 7:00 p.m.
No. 7 Bethel at No. 2 Augsburg, 7:45 p.m.
No. 5 St. Olaf at No. 4 Gustavus, 7:45 p.m.
Semifinals, Thursday, Feb. 24
Two highest remaining seeds host, both games at 7:00 p.m.
Championship, Saturday, Feb. 26
Highest remaining seed hosts, 7:00 p.m.
