Grinnell College men's basketball team cruises to another Midwest Conference title

By Ted Schultz

        The record-setting season continues for the Grinnell College men's basketball team.
      The Pioneers clinched their second Midwest Conference Tournament title in a row, and first-ever in new Darby Gymnasium, by easily disposing of Monmouth College 85-56 Saturday, Feb. 28.
     Already owning the season record for victories in a season, Grinnell improved to 22-3 in front of the second packed house in as many days. 
      The Pioneers again qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament and will learn their regional fate Monday at noon Central time. The selection show can be found here.
      The top-seeded host school won its 12th game in a row, its longest victory streak since the 2006-07 season.
       Saturday's victory was not in doubt as the Pioneers burst out to a 40-23 halftime lead over the second-seeded Fighting Scots, who finished with a 20-7 mark. Trailing 7-6, Grinnell took the lead for good on a layup by Aidan Wiley '29, Strahinja Nikolic '27 followed with a layup for a 10-7 cushion.
       After Monmouth pulled within 10-9, Grinnell rushed off seven consecutive points as Tanner Deal '27 sank a trey and Nikolic and Zach Rosen '26  each made layups for a 17-9 edge.
      The Pioneers led by as many as 19 late in the half before holding a 17-point edge at intermission. Grinnell continued to pull away in the second half before winning by 29, its largest winning margin over the Fighting Scots since 2022.
      Rosen led Grinnell's balanced scoring attack with 14 points, while Tyler Copes '29 and Nick Lundy '27 had 10 apiece. Copes continued his dominance inside by blocking five shots. 
     Rosen and Gabe Garcia '27 posted six rebounds and five assists each. Wiley led the way in steals with three.
     The MWC Tourney title is Grinnell's fourth-ever and comes on the heels of the team's eighth regular-season crown. Grinnell will be playing in its fourth NCAA Tourney.
NCAA Division III Basketball Tournament
      Next up for Grinnell is a date with John Carroll University in a Regional semifinal game on March 6 with tip off at 4:10 p.m. in Bloomington, Ill.