APPLETON, Wis. - The Grinnell College men's basketball team not only qualified for the Midwest Conference Tournament with Saturday's victory, but set up a thrilling showdown featuring the league's best teams.

Grinnell used a big surge late in the first half, then held off strong Lawrence University rally in the second stanza for an 88-75 victory at Alexander Gymnasium. 

The Pioneers, who have advanced to the MWC Tourney three years in a row, will host Monmouth College at 5:30 p.m. in Darby Gymnasium. Grinnell is second in the league with a 10-1 mark and Monmouth is first at 11-0.

The Pioneers, 15-3 overall, have won 13 of their last 14 games and lost just once since Nov. 22. They have swept Lawrence two years in a row and are off to their best start, both in the MWC and overall, since the 2011-12 campaign.

Kai Te Huki '27 was stellar from 3-point land for the Pioneers, scoring 17 points with the aid of 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc. He surpassed the 1,500-point mark for his career and has 1,5616, 12th all-time at GC. Te Huki was joined in double figures by Gabe Garcia '27 with 14 points and Zach Rosen '26 with 12.

John Vincent '26 was a force inside with seven boards, while Tyler Copes '29 blocked two shots. Rosen, Nick Courtney '26 and Kingzten Bristol '29 all had three assists, while Courtney and Te Huki posted two steals each. Bristol's assists total is a career-high.

The Pioneers got off to a slow start, falling behind 11-2 before battling back and taking the lead for good on Te Huki's 3-pointer that made it 24-22 with 1:38 left  the half. That was part of an eight-point flurry that turned a 22-19 deficit into a 27-22 lead.

Grinnell kept it going and was ahead 39-28 at intermission. The Pioneers eventually increased the gap to 19 points, but the Vikings roared back into contention and made it a 70-67 game with 5:07 left.

Te Huki stopped the bleeding with a trey and, after a jumper by Lawrence, Courtney began a crucial 6-0 run for Grinnell with a layup. Garcia tacked on three free throws and Te Huki another to make it 79-69 with 3:36 left. 

The Pioneers held off the hosts from there to secure the victory. With the loss, Lawrence dropped to 3-7 in the MWC and 10-9 in all games.