ASHLAND, Va. - Senior guard Ray Pierce (Milwaukee, Wis.) scored six of his season-high 19 points within the final three minutes to lead the Carroll University men's basketball team to a hard-fought nail-biting 71-69 victory over Stockton University in the consolation game of the Randolph-Macon Coaches Tournament at Crenshaw Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
It was the third road victory of the season for steadily improving Carroll, which snapped a string of frustrating back-to-back losses to improve to 5-8 overall. 
The Pioneers trailed 33-29 at halftime but responded to the challenge by outscoring Stockton 42-36 in the momentum-shifting second half.
Trailing 62-59 late in the second half, junior guard Nick Penny (Lake Zurich, Ill.) made a clutch, game-tying 3-point basket from the top of the key with 3:05 remaining to ignite what proved to be a decisive 12-10 run.
Pierce scored the go-ahead basket on a hard-driving layup off an assist from junior forward Kale Maupin (Peotone, Ill.) with 2:47 left.
Penny made a pressure-packed 3-pointer to extend the lead to 67-62 with 1:44 left followed by two consecutive layups down the stretch by Pierce.
Stockton trimmed the deficit as the result of a 3-pointer by junior guard Brandon Hamilton and a layup from senior guard Keenan Williams Jr. within the final 20 seconds but came up empty on its final possession of the contest.
Carroll showcased its talent, depth and balance with 10 players players reaching the scoring column, highlighted by three in double figures.
Penny contributed 15 points with five baskets from 3-point range and a team-best six assists for Carroll, which made 13 3-pointers, 10 of 15 free throws and shot 52.2 percent from field-goal range.
Penny, who was selected to the prestigious all-tournament team, finished with 24 points powered by seven 3-pointers, seven assists, three rebounds and a steal in the two-game Christmas-break competition.
Sophomore guard Tarren Hall (New Lisbon, Wis.) chipped in 12 points with four 3-pointers, sophomore guard Ryan Clarey (Pewaukee, Wis.) had seven points with two 3-pointers and junior guard/forward Charlie Soule (Oregon, Wis.) added six points.
Junior forward Jordan Taylor scored a team-high 19 points with five 3-pointers in the first half for Stockton, which dropped to 6-6 overall. Williams Jr. finished with 12 points for the Ospreys, who made six 3-pointers, 11 of 14 free throws and shot 46.4 percent from the field.

All-Tournament Team
Junior guard Nick Penny (Carroll); senior guard Grayson Midulla (Randolph-Macon); junior guard Riley Collins (Drew); senior guard Keenan Williams Jr. (Stockton)

Most Valuable Player
Sophomore guard Buzz Anthony (Randolph-Macon)