LAS VEGAS, Nevada - It was a record-setting night for Tanner Zaeske.
Zaeske, a 6-foot-3 senior guard from South Milwaukee, Wis., scored an individual season-high 26 points with eight 3-point baskets to lead the Carroll University men's basketball team to a 76-54 victory over Pacific Lutheran University in its final game of the eighth annual D3hoops.com Classic at South Point Arena on Friday evening.
With the standout performance, Zaeske established a tournament record for 3-pointers in a single game and equaled a Carroll school record.
Zaeske, who had 18 points in the second half and played a team-high 26 minutes, etched his place in the record books on his final long-range shot coming from the right baseline to extend the lead to 74-46 with 3:29 remaining.
Zaeske became a part of an elite fraternity with the rare feat, joining former Carroll standouts Mike Van Helvoirt (1995-96) and Tim Richert (1997-98) as the only players in program history to reach the prestigious mark.
The Pioneers, who improved to 1-1 in the tournament and 4-7 overall, outscored Pacific Lutheran 37-19 in that what proved to be a decisive first half - highlighted by an explosive 25-9 run over the course of the opening 12 minutes.
Junior guard Ray Pierce (Milwaukee, Wis.) contributed 12 points and junior forward Tyler Ingebrigtsen (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) had nine points for the Pioneers, who made 10 3-pointers and 10 of 18 free throws.
Sophomore guard/forward Charlie Soule (Oregon, Wis.) followed with eight points and five rebounds for Carroll, which shot 57.1 percent from field-goal range. Sophomore guard Nick Penny (Lake Zurich, Ill.) added seven points.
The Pioneers, who forced 16 turnovers, outrebounded Pacific Lutheran 32-26 - maintaining a 24-20 advantage on the defensive glass.
Senior guard/forward Markus Glenn scored a team-high 10 points for Pacific Lutheran, which dropped to 3-6 overall.