NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Carroll University men's basketball team wrapped up play at the Music City Classic with a hard-fought loss to Nazareth College by a score of 58-72. Aaron Wafford finished with a season-high 19 points while shooting 8-15 from the field. Josh Hudgens finished with 15 points on 3-7 shooting from behind the arc.
 
The Pioneers (4-9, 0-4 CCIW) got off to a good start shooting 12 of 28 from the field with six three-pointers for a 35-point first half, but the men finished with just 23 points and only 10 made baskets in the second half. The Golden Flyers, who are receiving votes in the D3hoops.com Top-25 Poll, finished with a resounding 43 points in the second half shooting 64.3% from the field. Carroll scored just 16 points in the paint compared to Nazareth's 42, while Carroll grabbed more fast-break points than the Golden Flyers. The Pioneers managed to play sound offense, only turning the ball over seven times all game.
 
Carroll's first five minutes of the game were dominant, quickly picking up a 13-3 lead capped off by a Hudgens' three-pointer. Two free throws from Hudgens gave Carroll a 13-point lead with 11:45 remaining in the first half. Nazareth cut the lead down to just two with 6:13 remaining, but Hudgens ripped down an offensive rebound, made the second-chance basket, and was fouled in the process for a three-point play. The Pioneers went into halftime with a 35-29 advantage.
 
Nazareth came out of the break hot, quickly tying the game with 15:15 remaining in the contest, and took the lead on their next offensive possession off an and-one three-point play. Wafford hit back-to-back jumpers with nine minutes left in the game to try to get back in it, but the Golden Flyers had answers for all the Pioneers' shots. Nazareth worked up the lead to 20 points with 3:14 remaining in the contest, leading coach Combs to empty his bench.
 
The Pioneers return to action after the new year, hosting Carthage College on Wednesday, January 5 at 7 PM inside Van Male Field House.