DeRock leads second half comeback as Pipers advance

The Pipers (12-14) trailed 38-22 after the first 20 minutes of play and 42-24 early in the second half, but erupted for 52 second-half points to earn the school's first playoff victory since 1985.

DeRock went 9 of 12 from the floor in the second half after going just 2 of 6 shooting in the first half.

Down 18 early in the second half, Hamline went on a 13-4 run to cut the lead to 46-37. DeRock scored six points during that span. He later netted seven points in a 14-2 spurt that whittled the lead to 53-51 after the Johnnies (16-10) upped the lead back to 14.

St. John's would hold onto the lead until 2:34 remained in the game when DeRock scored a conventional three-point play to give the Pipers their first lead of the game, 67-66.

Junior Kyle Foster and DeRock would hit layups on Hamline's next two possessions to go up by five.

St. John's cut the lead to 74-71 on a Brady Brink three-pointer with seven seconds left. The Johnnies would steal the inbounds pass, but Tyler Westman's three-pointer as time expired was off target.

The Pipers shot 64 percent in the second half (21-33) after shooting just 31 percent in the first half (10-32).

The Johnnies opened up a 16-point halftime cushion after shooting 41 percent in the first half (14-34). They also were 9 of 11 from the free throw line in the half.

First-year Tony Thrasher added 14 points for the Pipers. Senior Charley Good netted 10 points.

Paul Henrichs and Craig Shafer paced the Johnnies with 16 points apiece. Matt Ohme scored 13 points while Tyler Westman chipped in 10.

The Pipers will advance to the MIAC Semifinals were they will face top-seeded St. Thomas Thursday night. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.