ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - Senior guard/forward Joel Heesch (Mauston, Wis.) contributed a team-high 18 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals as the Carroll University men's basketball team lost to No. 2-ranked Augustana College 66-62 in a tough, hard-fought College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin game at Roy J. Carver Center on Saturday night.
Carroll, which dropped to 0-6 in the conference standings and 4-11 overall with the inspired performance, built a 34-27 lead at intermission but struggled to sustain the momentum in the second half as it was outscored by a 39-28 margin - including a 15-0 run over a decisive six-minute stretch.
Sophomore forward Kale Maupin (Peotone, Ill.) and sophomore guard Nick Penny (Lake Zurich, Ill.) each followed with 13 points for the Pioneers, who maintained a 32-26 rebound advantage. Senior guard/forward Tanner Zaeske (South Milwaukee, Wis.) added 10 points and a game-high seven rebounds.
Carroll, which made nine baskets from 3-point range, 9 of 12 free throws and shot 45.8 percent from the field, trimmed the deficit to 65-62 on a layup by Maupin with 14 seconds remaining but couldn't get any closer.
Junior guards Chrishawn Orange and Nolan Ebel each scored a team-high 17 points for Augustana, which improved to 4-2 in conference and 12-3 overall.
The Vikings made seven 3-pointers, 13 of 23 free throws and shot 47.9 percent from the field.