Bethel University Athletics

2/23/2018 10:47:00 AM /

Men's Basketball

Playoff Preview: Bethel and St. Olaf Square Off in MIAC Semifinals

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ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—Bethel University's men's basketball team travels to Northfield, Minn., on Friday, February 22 to face St. Olaf College at 7 p.m. in the semifinal round of the 2018 MIAC Playoffs.

Event info: Tickets for Friday's game may be purchased at the door. The price for admission is $7 for adults, $3 for students, and free for kids five and under.
 
What's at stake: The winner of Friday's game will advance to the championship game of the MIAC Playoffs, where they'll meet the winner of No. 1 Saint John's / No. 4 Augsburg. Should SJU defeat the Auggies, the Bethel or Saint Olaf will travel to Collegeville. However, if Augsburg upsets the Johnnies, Bethel or Saint Olaf would host the Auggies. That game is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 25. [MIAC Playoff Website]
 
How'd they get here: No. 3 Bethel punched their ticket to the MIAC semifinals with Wednesday's 71-65 come-from-behind victory over No. 6 Carleton. The Royals outscored the Knights 18-4 in the final 4:50 of the game thanks in part to Granger Kingland's nine points during that span. No. 2 St. Olaf sat idle Wednesday as one of two teams with a first-round bye.
 
Season series: Friday's game between Bethel and St. Olaf is the third and final meeting of the 2017-18 campaign. The Oles topped the Royals in both regular-season contests by a combined eight points. St .Olaf closed the January 3 affair on a 7-2 run in the final 60 seconds to steal an 83-82 road victory. History repeated itself on January 31 when the Oles outscored BU 10-3 in the final 2:08 to secure a 75-68 home win.
 
The matchup: Tonight's matchup between Bethel and St. Olaf marks the 88th meeting between these two opponents since 1978. The healthy rivalry has gone back and forth, however, BU owns the 49-38 advantage during that time period. Prior to the Oles two wins this season, Bethel had won six of the last seven. BU is 3-1 all-time against St. Olaf in the playoffs, which includes postseason wins in 2015, 2012, and 2003. St. Olaf knocked off the Royals in 2007.
 
No man's land: The Royals have reached the postseason in seven consecutive seasons and 17 times in the last 19 years, which is the second most of any conference team during that stretch. Bethel has advanced to the MIAC semifinals or better in 13 of those 17 Playoff runs, including the last five under the direction of head coach Doug Novak. No other team has accomplished this feat across the conference.

Sharp shooter: Bethel's Matt Ambriz was explosive in Wednesday's quarterfinal win over Carleton, knocking down 7-of-8 triples attempted against the Knights for a team-high 21 points. The junior has made 48-of-92 attempts (.522) from downtown since the start of 2018.

Regionally ranked: St. Olaf is ranked No. 4 in the latest NCAA West Region rankings, which gives the Oles great optimism of an NCAA tournament appearance. St. Olaf last reached the dance in 2015-16 when defeating St. Thomas in the MIAC Championship game.