WAUKESHA, Wis. - Senior guard/forward Tanner Zaeske (South Milwaukee, Wis.) scored a team-high 15 points with three 3-point baskets but the Carroll University men's basketball team lost to No. 24-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University 82-70 in a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin game at Van Male Field House on Saturday afternoon.
It was the second conference loss to a nationally-ranked opponent for Carroll, which dropped to 1-7 in the league standings and 5-12 overall.
As the game remained tied 37-37 at the intermission, Illinois Wesleyan responded by outscoring the Pioneers 45-33 in the second half - including a key, momentum-shifting 15-2 run over the course of the opening six minutes.
Carroll trimmed the deficit to 72-67 on two free throws by Zaeske with 3:25 reamining but couldn't get any closer.
Junior forward Tyler Ingebrigtsen (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) contributed 12 points for the Pioneers, who made nine 3-pointers, 13 of 17 free throws and shot 52.2 percent from field-goal range. Senior guard Joel Heesch (Mauston, Ill.) followed with 10 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
Junior guard Troy Howat (Plainfield, Ill.) and sophomore forward Kale Maupin (Peotone, Ill.) each had eight points.
Senior guard Brady Rose scored a game-high 27 points to lead Illinois Wesleyan, which won its sixth straight to improve to 7-1 in conference and 14-3 overall. Junior guard Jason Gregoire had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Titans, who made 10 3-pointers, 14 of 20 free throws and shot 54.7 percent from the field.