WAUKESHA, Wis. - Challenging nonconference matchups can often test the mettle of a young team early on in the season.
The Carroll University men's basketball team experienced that firsthand as it lost to Bethel University 89-72 in the championship game of its own four-team Pioneer Tip-Off Classic at Van Male Field House on Saturday afternoon.
It was the first loss of the season for Carroll, which dropped to 1-1 overall following the two-day tournament.
The Pioneers trailed 54-50 with 13:59 remaining in the second half but were outscored 18-5 during what proved to be a decisive six-minute stretch.
It proved to be the turning point as Carroll struggled to regain the momentum the rest of the way.
Junior guard Matt Ambriz and sophomore guard Granger Kingland, the tournament MVP, each scored a team-high 19 points for Bethel, which improved to 2-0 overall. Senior guard Riley Dearring had 18 points, junior center Derek Magnuson chipped in 13 points and sophomore guard Jack Jenson added 10 points to round out a balanced offensive attack for the Royals.
Joel Heesch, a 6-foot-2 fifth-year senior guard/forward from Mauston, Wis., contributed a game-high 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists in playing 36 minutes to lead Carroll, which shot 53 percent from field-goal range.
Heesch, who converted 10 of 16 field goals in the contest, scored 16 points in the second half - highlighted by a hard-driving layup down the middle of the lane to trim the deficit to four points.
"Regardless of the outcome of this game, we showed glimpses of being a really good team this weekend," said Heesch, who was selected to the all-tournament team for the second consecutive year by combining for 31 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists and four steals in two games. "With four returning starters, we have a lot of good pieces so I'm really looking forward to seeing how we progress throughout the season. The experience we gained in this tournament will be a great motivator as we move forward."
It was an exciting weekend for Heesch, who made a successful return to Ted H. Baker Court after missing all but four games as the result of an injury last year.
"I'm just happy to be out there again," said Heesch, who made a dramatic game-saving steal and critical pass to set up the winning shot in the tournament opener. "It's been a long time so it's great to be able to compete and contribute. Looking back, it was cool and exciting being named to the all-tournament team again but it would've been even sweeter if we had come away with a victory."
Junior guard
Ray Pierce (Milwaukee, Wis.) scored eight of his 12 points in the second half for the Pioneers, who made three baskets from 3-point range and 13 of 18 free throws.
Pierce provided a spark in the second half by responding with six points in the opening five minutes, highlighted by a strong reverse layup to cut the lead to 52-48 with 15:12 left.
Junior forward
Tyler Ingebrigtsen (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) had 10 points and sophomore guard/forward
Charlie Soule (Oregon, Wis.) chipped in nine points.
Senior guard/forward
Tanner Zaeske (South Milwaukee, Wis.) and junior point guard
Ben Widdes (Rice Lake, Wis.) each added seven points for the Pioneers.
"We battled hard but they simply outplayed us in all phases today," Carroll fifth-year head coach
Paul Combs said. "Bethel deserves a lot of credit in the way they continued to play within their system, executed and sustained the momentum. We tried a lot of different things defensively but just didn't have the answer.
"With the strength of the CCIW, we always want good teams to come to this tournament in order to prepare us for the demanding challenges that lie ahead. From that standpoint, we will use this as a learning experience as we move forward in the weeks to come."
PIONEER FAST FACTS
What: The Carroll University men's basketball team lost to Bethel University 89-72 in the championship game of its own Pioneer Tip-Off Classic (sponsored by Nicholas Investments) at Van Male Field House on Saturday afternoon.
Record: 1-1 overall
Scoring Leaders: Joel Heesch (22 points), Ray Pierce (12 points), Tyler Ingebrigtsen (10 points), Charlie Soule (9 points), Tanner Zaeske (7 points), Ben Widdes (7 points)
Notable: The Pioneers trailed 54-50 with 13:59 remaining in the second half but were outscored 18-5 during what proved to be a decisive six-minute stretch.
All-Tournament Team
Senior guard/forward Joel Heesch (Carroll); junior guard Jake Jurss (Concordia University of Wisconsin); senior forward Sam Amsbaugh (Simpson); sophomore guard Jack Jenson (Bethel)
Most Valuable Player
Sophomore guard Granger Kingland (Bethel)
