Chicago, Ill. – The Carroll University Pioneers men's basketball team grabbed their first win of the year at North Park, with a 69-61 finish over the Vikings. Tarren Hall followed up his career high performance from last week with 26 points and 13 rebounds for his first career double-double.
 
The Pioneers (1-2, 1-2 CCIW) finished the game shooting 45.5% from the field and 37% from three, including 62% in the second half. Hall's 6 threes led the team, followed by two from Justin Steinike (10 pts, 5 reb). Despite foul trouble most of the game, the men held on towards the end of game. The Pioneers only scored 26 points in the paint to North Park's 40 but scored 24 points off 16 Viking turnovers.

Josh Hudgens (9 pts, 4 reb) scored his first career collegiate points in the opening possession of the game, kicking off the Pios 6-2 run within the first minute and a half of the game, forcing a North Park timeout. The Pios held the lead the majority of the first half, including a lead of 10 with 11:32 remaining in the half off a Ryan Mendoza (8 pts, 3 ast) jump shot. Hall made his first three of the game to give the Pios a 22-11 lead with under 10 remaining. North Park fought back, tying the game with 4:54 remaining in the first half. Hall went on an 8-0 run to give the Pios a lead again, before the Vikings cut the lead back to two. Hudgens hit a turn around jump shot as time expired going into halftime.

North Park came out swinging in the second half, starting on a 6-0 run. Hudgens was fouled attempting a three leading to three straight free-throws to cut the lead to one. The Pios retook the lead thanks to a Justin Gruber (9 pts, 3 ast) three-pointer. Gruber's three sparked another Pio run, bringing the lead to ten off another Hall three, giving him 22 for the game with 7:18 remaining. The Pios held the lead the rest of the way, despite North Park cutting the lead to five. An entire team effort kept the men ahead, giving them their first win of the 2020-21 season.

The Men stay on the road next week for their first game against Elmhurst University on Thursday, Feb. 11^th. The Pios lost both games against the Bluejays a year ago, including a thrilling 81-82 double overtime loss in Van Male Field House.