The sixth-seed Pipers showed the effects of playing their third road game in six days. They shot just 31% from the field (18-of-59), including 4-of-18 from 3-point range, and scored just 16 second-half points.
The top-seed Tommies, winners of nine of their last 10, advance to Saturday's playoff championship game for the 12th time in 18 seasons. The Toms will host No. 2-seed Carleton (21-5), a 55-48 home winner over Gustavus. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m. at UST in the battle of conference co-champions.
Schnettler's 10-of-13 shooting night included four 3-pointers, and he became the first MIAC player to make 100 3-pointers in one season (100-of-229, 44%). St. Thomas sank 10-of-14 from 3-point range, including a 4-of-5 long-range shooting night by junior forward Mike Keating in his 18-point outing.
UST, coming off a seven-day layoff, outrebounded the Pipers 22-10 in the second half and 40-29 on the game. The Toms' starting five combined to score 80-plus points (81) for the third time this season.
Junior center Isaac Rosefelt had 15 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks; senior guard Sean Sweeney had 11 points and four assists; and senior forward Joey Shimek had eight points and nine rebounds and surpassed 500 career boards.
The Tommies improved to 10-1 at home this season and moved to 27-0 all-time vs. the Pipers at Schoenecker Arena. UST has won its last six MIAC playoff semifinal games.
Hamline freshman guard Jon DeRock had 14 of his team-best 16 points in the first half and added six rebounds.
Hamline's only lead came at 2-0. The Tommies used a 17-5 run to build a 15-point first half lead, and led 46-35 at halftime. The Toms used a 13-1 run to build a 63-40 lead with 14:47 to play and gradually pulled away.
Hamline, which won its first playoff game in 21 years Tuesday with a 74-71 upset of St. John's, was denied in its bid to become the first sixth seed to make the playoff finals. Hamline also got into early foul trouble with six assessed in the first 5:17, and the Toms knocked down 14-of-17 at the foul line.
The Pipers graduate just one senior in their top eight.
see" class="red" rel=nofollow>http://www.stthomas.edu/tommies/MBB/stats/2-23mbb.htm">see box score here