COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Carroll University men's basketball team surrendered a 19-point second half lead and fell to the Carleton College Knights on Saturday night 72-79. The Pioneers finished as runners up in the Colorado College Rocky Mountain Classic, after defeating the host team Colorado College on Friday night.
Kobe Simpson led the Pioneers with 14 points, while
Eckahelo Simpson added nine rebounds to his 10 points.
The Pioneers (2-5) shot 48.3% from the floor, knocked down 9-21 (42.9%) of their three-pointers, and went 5-8 at the free throw line. Carroll did struggle in the foul department, giving up 20 free throws on 22 fouls. The Pioneers' 21 turnovers proved costly down the stretch, but Carroll gained 26 points from the bench, led by
Justin Gruber's eight points in 15 minutes played.
Carroll and Carleton both struggled to gain momentum early on in the first half, but the two teams found themselves tied at 7-7 at the 13:42 minute mark. Gruber knocked down a three-pointer that kicked off a Pio fun that saw Paradiso Dante and
Aaron Wafford contribute. Wafford scored nine points in the first half on 3-4 shooting from three.
Tyler Miller sank a jumper with 40 seconds left to give Carroll an 11 point advantage at halftime.
As both teams went back and forth trading baskets to start the second half, it was the Knights who worked Carroll's lead down to eight with 16:24 remaining in the game. Carroll however unleased a 14-3 run that ran their lead up to 19 with 11:23 left in the game. Carleton responded with a resounding, 15-5 run. The Pioneers had over a three-minute span where they were unable to even get a shot off between turnovers and offensive fouls, giving the Knights a chance to tie the game at 63-63 with 4:29 remaining. K Simpson and
Justin Steinike took strides to give Carroll their advantage back, but the Knights were able to ice the game at the free throw line in the final minute.
The Pios will head back to the Midwest this week and will begin the CCIW portion of their schedule on the road, taking on North Central College on Wednesday, November 30 in Naperville.
