ELMHURST, Ill. - Junior guard/forward Tanner Zaeske (South Milwaukee, Wis.) scored a team-high 18 points with four 3-point baskets but the Carroll University men's basketball team lost to Elmhurst College 73-70 in a hard-fought, physical College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin season finale at R.A. Faganel Hall on Tuesday night.
It was a frustrating end to a successful season for Carroll, which lost two of its last three to finish 8-8 in conference and 13-12 overall.
Coming into the contest, the Pioneers remained in contention for the final spot in the CCIW tournament but were officially eliminated with the road loss.
The trio of Carthage, North Park and Augustana clinched the top three tournament spots (with 11-5 league records) and shared the conference championship. North Central (9-7) earned the fourth and final berth to complete the field.
As the game remained tied 66-66 late in the second half, Elmhurst answered with a decisive 7-4 run over the course of the final minute to seal a victory - including a momentum-shifting 3-pointer by sophomore forward Austin Brown with 32 seconds remaining. 
Sophomore point guard Ben Widdes (Rice Lake, Wis.) contributed 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals for Carroll, which converted seven 3-pointers, 23 of 34 free throws and shot 37.7 percent from field-goal range.
Widdes made two free throws to trim the deficit to 71-70 with 11 seconds left but the Pioneers couldn't get any closer.
Senior guard Kyle Keranen (Hartland, Wis.) followed with 11 points and five rebounds in his final game to cap a standout four-year career for the Pioneers. Sophomore forward/center Tyler Ingebrigtsen (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) had 10 points, seven rebounds, three blocked shots and a steal.
Sophomore guard Ray Pierce (Milwaukee, Wis.) had 10 points with freshman guard Nick Penny (Lake Zurich, Ill.) adding five points. 
Freshman guard/forward Derek Dotlich scored a game-high 19 points, highlighted by two, pressure-packed free throws with five seconds remaining to put the game away for Elmhurst, which ended the season 4-12 in conference and 8-17 overall. Senior forward Jalen Loving registered a double-double with 11 points and a game-best 13 rebounds for the Bluejays, who made seven 3-pointers, 24 of 33 free throws and shot 37.5 percent from the field.
Elmhurst, which scored 20 points in the paint, outrebounded the Pioneers 45-32 - maintaining a key 16-9 advantage on the offensive glass.