Junior guard Erik Tengwall had nine points in a game-closing 13-0 run as top-seeded St. Thomas (25-1) pulled out an MIAC men's basketball playoff semifinal win over the fourth-seed Carleton Knights (16-11) Friday night at UST's Schoenecker Arena.

St. Thomas is home Sunday to play third-seed Augsburg in a 2 p.m. championship game.

Senior Scott Theisen scored 31 points for the Knights and was one of four Carleton players who logged 39 or more minutes.

For UST, which had only nine turnovers and shot 46 percent from the floor, Zach Riedeman had 17 points, Tengwall had 12 points, Tommy Hannon had nine points and 10 rebounds, and John Nance had eight points and four steals.

Carleton never led but hung with the Tommies over the first 38 minutes. Theisen went 10-of-10 at the foul line in the second half, including two free throws that tied the game at 57-57 with 4:32 to play.

Tengwall converted two layups three-point plays with layups and free throws and one three-point basket in the late run. The Toms held Carleton scoreless on its last six possessions.

UST had a 19-0 advantage in bench points. Carleton, competing in its third game in seven days, used only six players due to a a recent season-ending injury to sophomore Shane McSparron.

St. Thomas, which improved to 13-0 at home this season, has won its last 14 on-campus MIAC semifinal round playoff games since 1992. The Tommies are in the playoff finals for the seventh time in the last eight seasons.