Wheaton, Ill. – The Carroll University men's basketball team lost 57-70 against the Wheaton College Thunder. Carroll was looking to upset the Thunder in the final road game of the season, but Wheaton held on to secure the CCIW Conference Title. The Pios shot 40.7% from the field. Shots from the three-point line were tough to come by as the Pios only managed to make four on the night. The Pios led by Eckahelo Simpson, who scored a career-high 15 points on the night. Aaron Wafford added 12 points.

The Pioneers (6-18, 3-12 CCIW) had a hot first half shooting 48.3% from the field. The game was gritty with limited mistakes, as the two teams only turned the ball over 14 time total (nine turnovers for Carrol). Justin Steinike led the way with two steals. The Carroll bench contributed 16 points; Josh Hudgens scored 10 points. The Pios battled on the boards as they secured 34 rebounds. The game was tight statistically, apart from Wheaton shooting 28 free throws, compared to Carroll who got to the charity stripe just seven times.

The Pios started the game hot as Wafford scored seven of the Pioneers' first 11 points. Carroll found themselves up 11-6 before Wheaton would bring it back to a single-possession game. The five-point margin would be the largest of the half. The two teams would trade buckets until the 14:33 mark when Wafford would make a three-pointer to give the Pios another five-point lead. Wheaton would come down and answer with a three of their own to make it a 16-14 game. Carroll would keep the lead up until the 3:52 mark of the first half before Wheaton gained a 25-27 lead. However, Ethan Balinao would make a layup to tie the game up again.  Carroll would regain control and go into halftime up 31-30, and held the lead for 15 minutes in the first half. Wheaton would come out of the second half and go on a 5-0 run to take a 31-35 lead. Carroll would respond as back-to-back threes from Steinike and Hudgens gave the Pioneers a 44-41 lead, with 13:36 left. The game would then stall as Wheaton found themselves shooting 10 straight free throws on consecutive trips down the floor, but Carroll was able to weather the storm and keep it a one-possession game. The two teams would continue to battle, and Carroll went on a dry spell. Allowing Wheaton to push the lead to 62-50, until Eckahelo would respond with put back rebound to seven minutes scoreless streak. Carroll would give it one last attempt with 1:10 to go as Paradisio Dante would make an and-one to cut the lead to seven. However, Carroll would choose to foul, and Wheaton would make their free throws, winning the game 70-57.

The Pios are back home on Saturday, Feb. 18, as they celebrate their two senior (Justin Gruber and Ethan Balinao) in Waukesha, Wis.