Junior guard Will DeBerg scored all 18 of his points in the second half as the top-seeded Tommies (20-6) pulled away in the final 8:00 to post a 74-64 win over Bethel (16-11) in Friday night's MIAC playoff semifinal game at UST's Schoenecker Arena.

Freshman Conner Nord added 18 points for St. Thomas, who shot 50 percent from the floor and converted 23-of-29 free throws. Noah Kaiser had eight points, four rebounds and four assists. Soph guard Erik Tengwall added six points, seven rebounds, five assists and no turnovers in 30 minutes.

Taylor Hall scored a game-high 25 for the Royals, who led 28-27 at halftime but never led in the final 19:00. Guard Daniel Baah had 13 of his 18 points in the second half.

St. Thomas had a 17-6 advantage in bench points.

UST will play host to second-second Gustavus in Sunday's 2 p.m. title game. The Gusties scored a 12-point home win ovr St. John's Friday night in St. Peter. It's the 26th year in a row that either St. Thomas or Gustavus are in the conference playoff title game and the eighth head-to-head meeting.

St. Thomas improved to 24-6 on campus in MIAC playoff history including 13-0 record in semifinal games.