–Minneapolis, MN

Two weeks earlier, the chances of the men’s basketball team hosting the MWC tournament was little, if any. But with today’s victory against Monmouth, coupled with a St. Norbert loss to Carroll, Darby gym will be raucous come Friday night as the Pioneers will host the Conference tournament as the number one seed.

Earlier this year, Grinnell dropped games to both Carroll University and St. Norbert College at home. The loss to then-undefeated Carroll and St. Norbert left the Pioneers on the outside looking in.

But as of late, Carroll and St. Norbert have struggled, both finishing the conference season with four losses. The fourth team to qualify for the Conference tournament, Lawrence University, finished with a Conference record of 13-3, the same as the Pioneers. Despite the tied record, an earlier Grinnell victory over Lawrence ensured the Pioneers would win the ie-breaker and host the tournament.

The action begins this Friday night in Darby, when #1 Pioneers play host to #4 St. Norbert, and #2 Lawrence takes on #3 Carroll.