WAUKESHA, Wis. -  As the Carroll University men's basketball team slowly walked off Ted. H. Baker Court following a gut-wrenching, hard-fought loss Friday night, it could take solace in the fact that it nearly upset the No. 1-ranked team in the nation but was left wondering what might have been if a few key shots had fallen in its favor.
Carroll lost to top-ranked and defending NCAA Division III champion Nebraska Wesleyan 70-64 in the opening round of its own four-team Pioneer Tip-Off Classic (sponsored by Nicholas Investments) at Van Male Field House.
It was the first home-court loss of the season for Carroll, which dropped to 1-1 overall following the inspired performance in front of a large, enthusiastic crowd.
The Pioneers led 35-30 following an energized, near flawless first-half effort but were outscored 40-29 over the course of the final 20 minutes - including a key, momentum-shifting 24-9 run during the opening nine minutes.
Nebraska Wesleyan, which improved to 2-0 overall, claimed a 42-40 lead - its first of the game - on a layup by junior guard Nate Schimonitz with 16:49 remaining.
Carroll trimmed the deficit to 59-58 on a pressure-packed 3-pointer by junior guard Nick Penny (Lake Zurich, Ill.) with 2:59 left but couldn't get any closer. 
Penny scored a team-high 22 points, highlighted by six 3-point baskets to lead the Pioneers,  who made 11 3-pointers, 11 of 15 free throws and shot 40.4 percent from field-goal range.
Penny was on a mission in the opening minutes of the showdown, scoring nine of his team's first 11 points on three 3-pointers - igniting Carroll's first quarter run by converting a long-range basket from the left side of the perimeter with 18:11 left.
Senior guard Troy Howat (Plainfield, Ill.) contributed 19 points with five 3-pointers, three assists and two steals for Carroll. Senior guard Ray Pierce (Milwaukee, Wis.) followed with eight points, five rebounds and five assists.
Howat was a force in the first half, scoring a team-leading 13 points - including an aggressive 3-pointer from the top of the key to extend the lead to 14-3 with 15:09 remaining.
"I was really proud of the guys and how we fought with a lot of grit each step of the way," said Howat, following the difficult battle. "It's something that has defined our team so far this season. Tonight, we took another big step but at the end of the day it wasn't good enough. There were a lot of good things to build off of but we need to correct the mistakes in order to be successful. Regardless of whether we're going against the No. 1 team or not, it's all about execution and getting the victory. 
"Coming in, we wanted to be the aggressor and bring the fight to them. We accomplished that so if we can fix a few little things we should be fine as we move forward. This game showed what we can do if we play up to our potential. We can compete with anyone and knowing that will only help as the season progresses. I'm excited about where we're going so it will be interesting to see how we respond to this loss."
Senior forward Anthony Marlowe (South Milwaukee, Wis.) added five points and three rebounds for the Pioneers, who led 16-5 after the first seven minutes of the physical, fast-paced contest.
"It was a gutsy effort from beginning to end and the crowd was terrific," said Carroll sixth-year head coach Paul Combs, of his team's relentless performance. "Looking back on the game, our team defense was pretty sticky for the most part throughout the night and really helped keep their high-caliber offense in check at times. I was impressed with our toughness. You have to tip your hat to Nebraska Wesleyan because at the four-minute mark their seniors stepped up and took control of the game. They responded to the situation by hitting 3-pointers in low-clock situations and it was too much for us to overcome. The beauty of a tournament like this is that you get to play again tomorrow so we're looking forward to seeing how we bounce back."
Junior guard Jack Hiller scored a game-high 25 points with five 3-pointers for Nebraska Wesleyan. Schimonitz had seven points for the Prairie Wolves, who made 13 3-pointers, 7 of 15 free throws and shot 50 percent from the field.
Carroll is scheduled to host Central College in the final round of the tournament at 4 p.m. Saturday.

PIONEER FAST FACTS
What: The Carroll University men's basketball lost to No. 1-ranked and defending NCAA Division III champion Nebraska Wesleyan 70-64 in the opening round of its own four-team Pioneer Tip-Off Classic (sponsored by Nicholas Investments) at Van Male Field House on Friday evening.
Scoring Leaders: Nick Penny (22 points), Troy Howat (19 points), Ray Pierce (8 points), Anthony Marlowe (5 points)
Notable: The Pioneers led 35-30 following an energized first-half effort but were outscored 40-29 over the course of the final 20 minutes - including a key, momentum-shifting 24-9 run during the opening nine minutes.