LINCOLN, Neb. - Junior point guard Ben Widdes (Rice Lake, Wis.) had a team-high 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal as the Carroll University men's basketball team lost to Bethany Lutheran College 74-69 in the opening round of the 29th annual Snyder Thanksgiving Classic at Nebraska Wesleyan University on Friday evening.
It was the first road loss of the season for Carroll, which dropped to 1-2 overall.
The Pioneers led 40-32 at the intermission but were outscored 42-29 in the second half - including a decisive 15-9 run over the course of the final eight minutes.
Carroll trimmed the deficit to 64-62 with 3:22 remaining but couldn't get any closer.
Senior guard/forward Joel Heesch (Mauston, Wis.) and junior forward/center Tyler Ingebrigtsen (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) each followed with 12 points for the Pioneers, who converted 10 baskets from 3-point range and 13 of 24 free throws.
Sophomore guard Nick Penny (Lake Zurich, Ill.) had 11 points and senior guard/forward Tanner Zaeske (South Milwaukee, Wis.) added seven points.