COLLEGEVILLE, MINN.--The No. 3 seed Hamline Univeristy men's basketball team fell to No. 2 seed Saint John's (Minn.) 72-54 in their third-straight MIAC Tournament Semifinal apperarance on Thursday night in Collegeville.

The Pipers, who qualified for their 11th MIAC Tournament, finish the 2024-25 season with a 17-10 record. The No. 2 seed, and No. 10 ranked Johnnies will head to the MIAC Tournament Championship Game against No. 4 seed Carleton on Saturday, March 1 with a 23-3 overall record.

Saint John's (Minn.) 72, Hamline 54

In the first half, Saint John's secured a narrow lead over Hamline with a score of 35-28. The game opened with Zach Longueville of Saint John's committing a foul at 19:45, followed by Bradley Cimperman missing two free throws. Ryan Thissen of Saint John's scored the first points with a jumper at 19:20, contributing to his team's early momentum.  Raoul Vaidya kept the visitors close with a series of successful jumpers, including a 3-pointer at 11:09, leveling the score at 15-15. However, Saint John's Griffin Rushin countered with effective shooting from beyond the arc, including a 3-pointer at 10:08, helping his team maintain the lead. The half saw frequent lead changes, but Saint John's capitalized on key possessions and fast breaks, ultimately concluding the half with a seven-point 35-28 advantage.

In the second half, Saint John's scored 37 points to Hamline's 26, cementing a solid lead. Early in the half, Bradley Cimperman made key layups at 19:18 and 17:23, but Saint John's responded with baskets from Ryan Thissen and Zach Longueville, maintaining their lead. Griffin Rushin played a crucial role for Saint John's, contributing multiple free throws and a 3-pointer, helping to extend the lead to 62-41 by the 8:06 mark. Despite Austin Holt's consistent scoring for the Pipers, Saint John's maintained a steady advantage through effective defensive rebounds and timely scoring, ultimately securing the win.

Raoul Vaidya led the Pipers with 15 points, shooting 7-of-14 from the field and adding one 3-pointer. Austin Holt contributed 14 points and a team-high 11 rebounds, achieving a double-double while also recording a block. Bradley Cimperman posted 11 points, connecting on 5-of-13 field goal attempts and securing four defensive rebounds. Dane DeDominces made an impact defensively with two steals, adding two points to his performance. Hamline shot .415 (22-of-53) from the field, while Saint John's finished .491 (28-of-57).

Blake Berg led the Johnnies with six field goals made, contributing a total of 14 points. Zach Longueville was a key playmaker, recording seven assists and grabbing seven rebounds. Kooper Vaughn was active defensively with two steals, while also adding seven points. Griffin Rushin was the top scorer with 17 points, highlighted by four 3-pointers made. Ryan Thissen also made a significant impact with 12 points and six rebounds.

Playing in their final game for the Pipers are seniors Bradley Cimperman, Austin Holt, and Daniel McCarrell.