ELMHURST, Ill. - Freshman forward Blake Williams (Lone Tree, Colo.) contributed a season-high 20 points, including 9 of 10 free throws, six rebounds and three steals to lead the Carroll University men's basketball team to a 72-59 victory over Elmhurst College in a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin game at Faganel Hall on Wednesday night.
It was the fourth consecutive conference victory for Carroll, which improved to 7-8 in the highly contested league standings and 11-13 overall.
The high-octane victory took on added significance as it avenged a stinging 74-70 home-court loss to Elmhurst from earlier this season and clinched a berth in the prestigious, upcoming six-team CCIW Tournament - the first for the Carroll men's basketball program since re-joining the talent-laden conference in 2016.
Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, defending conference champion Augustana remains in sole possession of first place (14-1), followed by second-place North Central (11-4), third-place Wheaton (11-5) and fourth-place Illinois Wesleyan (9-6). Elmhurst (7-8) and Carroll (7-8) are tied for fifth to round out the impressive six-team field slated to compete in the upcoming CCIW Tournament.
The Pioneers, who have won five of their last six, trailed 33-28 at the intermission but responded to the challenge by outscoring Elmhurst 44-26 over the course of the final 20 minutes - highlighted by what became a decisive 12-3 run over a critical five-minute stretch.
Junior guard Nick Penny (Lake Zurich, Ill.) followed with 12 points, including a 3-point basket to ignite the key scoring surge and regain a 44-43 lead with 10:20 remaining.
Sophomore guard Ryan Clarey (Pewaukee, Wis.) had nine points with three 3-pointers for Carroll, which converted seven 3-pointers, 15 of 20 free throws and shot 51 percent from field-goal range. Junior forward Kale Maupin (Peotone, Ill.) chipped in eight points, a team-best seven rebounds and an assist.
Senior forward Tyler Ingebrigtsen (Elk Grove, Ill.) finished with eight points and senior guard Troy Howat (Plainfield, Ill.) added five points for the red-hot Pioneers, who scored 28 points in the paint, recorded 22 points off of turnovers and generated 14 assists. 
Junior guard/forward Derek Dotlich scored a team-high 14 points with four 3-pointers and eight rebounds for Elmhurst, which dropped to 12-12 overall.