COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The Macalester College men's basketball team lost a tough battle with top-seeded Saint John's University, 75-71 in the championship game of the MIAC Playoffs Sunday afternoon at a raucous Sexton Arena. The Scots' season comes to an end with a 15-13 record, the program's most successful season since 2004. The Johnnies (23-4) earn the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

This was the second appearance in the MIAC final since 2004 for Macalester, which was trying to become the first team to win the MIAC Playoffs by winning four games. The Scots had beaten 11th-seeded St. Scholastica, third-seeded Carleton and second-seeded Augsburg to advance to the championship game. The only other trip to the championship game for Macalester came in 2004, a loss to top-seeded Gustavus.

The Scots built an early lead in the first half, 12-7, with senior guard Gabriel Ramos (Dorado, Puerto Rico/Tasis Dorado) scoring five points. Saint John's responded with an 11-4 run to lead, 18-16 with 12:19 on the clock. The Johnnies were up 20-19 when senior guard Eric Sathy (Cupertino, Calif./Homestead) and sophomore guard Caleb Williams (Wild Rose, Wis./Wild Rose) made back-to-back baskets to regain the lead, 23-20 with 7:48 left in the half. Macalester led by as many as five points and were up, 38-34 when Carson Scholler hit a three just before halftime to make the score 38-37 Scots at the break. Macalester shot 61.5 percent in the first half compared the 50.0 percent for the Johnnies.

A three-pointer by first year guard Coby Gold (Denver, Colo./Kent Denver) punctuated a 15-9 Macalester run over the first six minutes of the second half to give the Scots a 53-46 lead. Saint John's responded by outscoring Macalester, 21-8 for a 67-61 advantage with under seven minutes to play. With the Johnnies still up by six, Gold buried a three to make it a three-point game, 71-68 with four minutes left. After Saint John's scored on each of its next two possessions, Williams hit another from deep to make the score 75-71 with 1:04 to play.

On the next play, the Johnnies ran the clock down, then Scholler missed a three, only to have Zach Hanson grab the offensive board with 34.3 seconds left. The Scots put Saint John's on the line in the bonus and regained the ball after a missed free throw. Hanson blocked a shot on the Scots' next attempt, then missed a free throw after being fouled. But a desperation three was short, and Macalester's improbable run through the MIAC Playoffs came to an end. The Johnnies shot 56.0 percent from the field in the second half while holding the Scots to 44.4 percent shooting after halftime to clinch the win and the MIAC title. Saint John's now has won the past three contested MIAC Playoffs.

Williams finished with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field to go with five assists. Ramos tallied 17 points and four rebounds in his final game as a Scot. Gold contributed 12 points and three assists while making all four of his three-point attempts, while first year forward Badou Ba (Dakar, Senegal/Williston Northampton) recorded eight points, five rebounds and a block off the bench. Sathy (eight points), Shane Anderson (Fargo, N.D./Davies) (2 points, five boards, two blocks) and Lucas Leiter (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Eagan) (three points) closed out their college careers along with Ramos. Hanson registered 12 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks to lead the Johnnies.

Macalester will return 13 players and its top two scorers for next season. 

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, Wednesday, Feb. 23
No. 1 Saint John's 74, No. 8 Hamline 53
No. 6 Macalester 70, No. 3 Carleton 56
No. 2 Augsburg 82, No. 7 Bethel 66
No. 5 St. Olaf 76, No. 4 Gustavus 73

Semifinals, Friday, Feb. 25
No. 6 Macalester 76, No. 2 Augsburg 74
No. 1 Saint John's 76, No. 5 St. Olaf 57

Championship, Sunday, Feb. 27
No. 1 Saint John's 75, No. 6 Macalester 71

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