MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Senior Kyle Keranen had a game-high 23 points with six baskets from 3-point range, five steals, three assists and two rebounds to help lead the Carroll University men's basketball team to an 87-70 victory over Milwaukee School of Engineering in a nonconference game at the Kern Center on Tuesday.
It was the second consecutive victory and third in the last four games for Carroll, which improved to 6-2 overall.
The Pioneers, who have won three straight road games, led 48-37 at the intermission and outscored MSOE 39-33 over the course of the final 20 minutes to pull away.
Keranen, who scored 13 points in the second half, continued his quest for 1,000 career points with the tenacious performance.
The 6-foot-1 guard from Hartland, Wis., currently has 973 points and is seeking to become the 17th player in the history of the Carroll men's program to accomplish the prestigious feat.
Leading 49-42 early in the second half, Keranen and junior guard/forward Tanner Zaeske (South Milwaukee, Wis.) responded with back-to-back 3-pointers during the opening three minutes to offset five unanswered points by the Raiders.
It proved to be the turning point as MSOE could only manage to trim the deficit to 10 points the rest of the way.
Carroll, which overcame a 9-2 deficit in the opening minutes of the game, showcased its talent, depth and athleticism with nine players reaching the scoring column, highlighted by four in double figures.
Sophomore guard Ben Widdes (Rice Lake, Wis.) registered a double-double by contributing 21 points - including 5 of 6 free throws - 10 assists and five steals for the Pioneers, who shot 56 percent from field-goal range.
Widdes was a steady force in the first half, scoring 16 points capped by a wide-open buzzer-beating 3-pointer as time expired.
Zaeske had 13 points fueled on three 3-pointers, four rebounds and two steals for the Pioneers, who made 11 3-pointers and 14 of 21 free throws.
Freshman forward Kale Maupin (Peotone, Ill.) had 11 points, five rebounds and an assist with sophomore guard Ray Pierce (Milwaukee, Wis.) adding eight points, four rebounds and two steals for Carroll, which forced 24 turnovers, outrebounded MSOE 32-25 and had 34 points in the paint.
Freshman guard Matthew Kirmse scored a team-high 15 points and junior center Tegan Miles had 14 points for MSOE, which dropped to 2-6 overall. Senior guard Alex Darville and sophomore guard Jason Palesse each added 10 points for the Raiders, who made six 3-pointers and 16 of 23 free throws.