WAUKESHA, Wis. - Kale Maupin took charge of the situation.
Maupin, a 6-foot-4 junior forward from Peotone, Ill., emphasized that by scoring a season-high 19 points as the Carroll University men's basketball team defeated Central College 76-71 to conclude the final round of its own four-team Pioneer Tip-Off Classic (sponsored by Nicholas Investments) at Van Male Field House on Saturday afternoon.
It was the second home-court victory of the season for Carroll, which improved to 2-1 overall in front of the enthusiastic crowd.
The Pioneers trailed 38-35 at halftime but responded by outscoring Central 41-33 in the second half - highlighted with a key, momentum-shifting 17-8 run over the course of the opening eight minutes. 
Maupin was a steady force over the course of the critical, momentum-shifting second half, scoring 18 points - highlighted by an aggressive inside basket to reclaim a 48-46 lead with 15:08 remaining in the contest.
"We came out a little flat so to be down by only three points heading into the intermission was really a testament to our character and determination," said Maupin, who had a strong baseline drive and layup to extend the lead to 59-53 with 8:47 left.  "Coming into the second half, we knew someone was going to have to step up and I just happened to be that person today. At that point, we kept going with the hot hand and good things continued to happen. My teammates did a great job of distributing the ball so I tried to take advantage of the opportunities and finish strong on each possession. That's when we were able to take the lead, build on it and keep it rolling."
Maupin showcased his mental toughness and durability on the defensive end, drawing a key charge with 5:55 remaining as Carroll responded with a 10-0 run over a six-minute stretch.
"Even though we played tough, back-to-back games and were coming off a difficult six-point loss to the No. 1-ranked team in the nation (referring to a 70-64 loss to top-ranked and defending NCAA Division III champion Nebraska Wesleyan in the opening round of the tournament), we showed a lot of heart in the way we bounced back from it, the light switch finally came on and everything clicked in the second half," Maupin added. "We made some great stops on the defensive end and it created a lot offensive momentum. It took a complete team effort to get the job done. With our offense being a little stagnant and knowing their big players were going to stay in the post, I just took it upon myself to take the ball hard to the basket and impose our will in the paint. Looking back, it was a great feeling to get another home-court victory in front of the big crowd and take another step forward."
Carroll showcased its depth and balance with eight players reaching the scoring column, including five in double figures.
Senior guard Troy Howat (Plainfield, Ill.) - who was named to the all-tournament team - added 19 points with five baskets from 3-point range, five rebounds, two assists and a steal for Carroll, which made six 3-pointers, 18 of 22 free throws and shot 49.1 percent from field-goal range.
"To be able to bounce back from such a tough loss really says a lot about this team's character," said Howat, who finished with 38 points, 10 3-pointers, five rebounds, five assists and three steals in playing an impressive 64 minutes during the two-day tournament. "Our effort on the defensive end really fueled the offense over the course of the second half. It's been a staple of our team this season so that's what we need to continue to do as we move forward."
For Howat, being named to the all-tournament team was a special accomplishment and a credit to the effort of his teammates.
"It was special to be honored and a great feeling to see all of the hard work pay off." Howat added. "More than anything its a team award because without the effort of the guys around me it would've never happened. From beginning to end, they set the screens, delivered the ball to the right spots and worked hard to create the opportunities. Being acknowledged meant even more following a victory to finish the tournament."
Senior guard Ray Pierce (Milwaukee, Wis.) contributed 11 points, converting 7 of 7 free throws, for the Pioneers.
Pierce was on a mission during the final two minutes of the first half, scoring seven points to power a key 7-2 run - including a hard-driving layup and free throw to trim the deficit to 38-33 with 1:20 left.
Junior guard/forward Charlie Soule (Oregon, Wis.) followed with 10 points, seven rebounds, one assist and a steal for the Pioneers, who finished with 16 assists. Senior forward Anthony Marlowe (South Milwaukee, Wis.) had 10 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals.
Carroll sixth-year head coach Paul Combs was pleased with the way his team maintained its intensity in the second half, responded to the pressure-packed challenge and closed the weekend with a positive, confidence-building victory.
"Give Central a lot of credit in the way they came out and shot the ball in the first half (making 8 of 13 shots from field-goal range)," Combs said. "As that happened, we just had to weather the storm and attempt to get back on track. Coming off such an emotionally and physically draining loss Friday night, it took a little while to get our legs beneath us again. It was just a matter of being patient, finding the right combinations and playing up to our potential on both ends of the floor.
"Kale played strong inside and had a breakthrough game at the perfect time. It was a collective effort to try and feed the post and the guys really excelled in doing that today.
I was just really happy with how we responded to the challenge, elevated our game in the second half and came away with a victory against a very gritty, tough Central team to finish off the weekend."
Senior guard Jamel McKnight scored a game-high 24 points with four 3-pointers and seven assists for Central, which dropped to 0-3 overall. Junior forward Seth Wood had 17 points for the Dutch, who made 13 3-pointers, 10 of 14 free throws and shot 45.3 percent from the field.

PIONEER FAST FACTS
What: The Carroll University men's basketball team defeated Central College 76-71 in the final round of its own four-team Pioneer Tip-Off Classic (sponsored by Nicholas Investments) at Van Male Field House on Saturday afternoon.
Scoring Leaders: Kale Maupin (19 points), Troy Howat (19 points), Ray Pierce (11 points), Anthony Marlowe (10 points), Charlie Soule (10 points)
Notable: The Pioneers trailed 38-35 at halftime but responded by outscoring Central 41-33 in the second half - highlighted with a key, momentum-shifting 17-8 run over the course of the opening eight minutes. 

All-Tournament Team
Senior guard Troy Howat (Carroll); senior guard Jamel McKnight (Central); junior forward Connor Curtis (St. Norbert); junior guard Nate Schimonitz (Nebraska Wesleyan)
Most Valuable Player
Nate Schimonitz (Nebraska Wesleyan)