GRINNELL, Iowa - Playing before a capacity crowd in Darby Gymnasium, Grinnell College's men's basketball team didn't disappoint the heavily-partisan home fanbase.

The Pioneers, hosting their first Midwest Conference Tournament since 2009, pulled away from Illinois College late in the first half on their way to a 94-73 semifinal round victory Friday.

The top-seeded Pioneers, who set a program record for victories while improving to 21-3, will entertain either Monmouth College or Lake Forest College at 3 p.m. Saturday for the title and automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

The fourth-seeded Blueboys, who ended their season with a 12-14 mark, hung with the hosts early and were tied at 24-all with 9:11 left in the first half. Grinnell followed with a five-point run that included a trey by Carson DeBruhl '27 and layup by Gabe Garcia '27. 

The Blueboys closed within 29-28 before the Pioneers stretched the lead back out. The hosts led 37-33 when they opened things up with a key 7-0 run that included consecutive layups by Tyler Copes '29 and 3-pointer by Sean Murphy '26 for a 44-33 edge at the 4:06 mark.

Copes also hit a layup following an inbounds play in the waning seconds to make it a 50-43 lead at intermission.

Illinois College scored to open the second stanza, but then it was all Pioneers as they went on a 16-1 run. Murphy began the spurt with a trey, Kai Te Huki '27 made a layup and Copes, Garcia and Nick Lundy '27 all scored from close range to make it 61-45.

After a free throw by the Blueboys, DeBruhl cashed in on a jumper and Te Huki hit a shot from beyond the arc to put the Pioneers ahead 66-46 with 13:48 remaining. Grinnell never let the Blueboys back into contention after that.

Garcia led Grinnell with 23 points, Te Huki tallied 16, Murphy scored 15 and Copes put in 11. Murphy was amazing from 3-point land, hitting 5-of-6 long shots.

Sean Walser '26 led the team in rebounds with eight, while Zach Rosen '26 grabbed six. Rosen also had seven assists, Copes blocked five shots and Rosen and Murphy posted two steals apiece.