BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Senior guard/forward Joel Heesch (Mauston, Wis.) contributed 12 points, six assists, four rebounds and a steal as the Carroll University men's basketball team lost to No. 17-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University in a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin game at the Shirk Center on Saturday night.
Carroll, which entered the contest riding the momentum of a four-game winning streak, dropped to 5-8 in the conference standings and 9-13 overall.
The Pioneers trailed 31-28 at halftime but couldn't maintain the momentum as they were outscored by a 39-33 margin over the course of the final 20 minutes.
Junior forward Tyler Ingebrigtsen (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) had 12 points, five rebounds and two assists for Carroll, which converted two baskets from 3-point range, 11 of 16 free throws and shot 45.3 percent from the field. Senior guard/forward Tanner Zaeske (South Milwaukee, Wis.) followed with 10 points and five rebounds.
Sophomore forward Kale Maupin (Peotone, Ill.) chipped in eight points and five rebounds for the Pioneers, who generated 40 points in the paint. Sophomore guard Nick Penny (Lake Zurich, Ill.) had seven points and sophomore guard/forward Charlie Soule (Oregon, Wis.) added six points.
Maupin made a mid-range jumper in the middle of the lane to trim the deficit to 46-45 with 11:49 remaining but Carroll couldn't get any closer.
Brady Rose scored a game-high 17 points with three 3-pointers to lead first-place Illinois Wesleyan, which improved to 10-3 in conference and 17-5 overall. Jason Gregoire had 15 points for the Titans, who made nine 3-pointers, 21 of 27 free throws and shot 43.5 percent from the field.
IWU outrebounded the Pioneers 34-29 in the contest, maintaining a key 24-20 advantage on the defensive glass.