NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College men's basketball team clinched a spot in the 2026 MIAC Playoffs with an 81-72 victory over Bethel University.
Patrick Smith starred in all facets, scoring 10 points, grabbing eight rebounds, tying his career high with four assists, and pilfering a career-best six steals, the most by a Knight this year. Josh Engelberg led the game with 19 points, tacking on seven rebounds and five helpers. Matt Drake posted 18 points, while Sam Koelling scored 15 points on 7-for-12 shooting and added eight rebounds. Omar Kaba contributed nine points on 3-for-3 shooting from the field, seven boards, and a career-best three blocks.
Carleton (14-10, 10-5 MIAC) played some of its best defense of the season, tying its campaign best with 10 team steals, and setting a new high-water mark in blocks with seven. On offense, the maize and blue made 46.9 percent of their shots overall, connected on 31.8 percent (7-for-22) of 3-pointers attempted, and 77.8 percent (14-for-18) of foul shots. The home team edged out the rebound battle, 36-35. The Knights turned the ball over just five times - a season low - against 16 assists.
Carleton held Bethel (11-13, 7-8 MIAC) scoreless for the first 6:22 of the game, earning an 8-0 lead. The Royals responded with a run of their own, and Adam Mattes connected on consecutive threes to cut the lead to 13-11 at the 11:38 mark of the half. The Knights could not shake the Royals, and the visitors tied the game at 21-21 with 6:44 remaining on a Blake Schmitz two, before taking a 26-25 lead on another Mattes trey at 2:53. The lead changed hands three more times before the break, with Smith powering home a layup with 30 seconds left to help the Knights to a 34-33 halftime lead.
Five more lead changes occurred out of the break, and a 6-0 Bethel spurt put the guests up 46-41 at 14:46, their largest lead of the game. The Knights edged back ahead when Drake splashed a three at 12:34 for a 50-48 advantage.
The game remained close, with a Jack Charbonneau layup at 6:24 making the score 60-58 in favor of Carleton. The game's biggest swing would follow. Smith assisted Drake on a 3-pointer, stole the ball, and then passed to Engelberg for a corner triple on the ensuing possession for a 66-58 lead. Overall, from 6:24 to 1:09, the Knights outscored their foes 17-4, including huge momentum swings like a Koelling fast-break slam, and a Kaba layup through a foul. That burst opened a 77-62 lead, basically sealing the game.
The Royals, the conference's second-best team by field goal percentage prior to the game, were held below their average from the field, making 44.4 percent of their shots. They hit 41.7 percent of their 3-point tries (10-for-24), and 6-of-8 free throws (75.0 percent). They dished out 15 team assists but were forced into 12 turnovers. Nick Burke's 17 points and nine rebounds paced the Royals. Mattes and Charbonneau finished with 15 points apiece. Blake Schmitz added 12 points and five assists, and Sam Gingras joined him in double digits with 10 points and seven boards.
Carleton clinched a playoff spot for the fifth consecutive season, the second-longest active streak in the MIAC. Head Coach Ryan Kershaw has made the postseason each of his first four years at the helm, one of just two active MIAC coaches to do so. All six MIAC playoff teams are decided, but seeding is still in the air. Carleton could finish anywhere from second to sixth, depending on results around the conference.