WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Carroll University men's basketball team secured their first home conference victory Wednesday night, defeating Carthage 89-83. The Pioneers shot over 56 percent from the field, 36 percent from three, and just under 68 percent from the free throw line. Kobe Simpson led the Pioneers in scoring, dropping 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting (3-for-5 from three). Kobe and sophomore Jacob Naber led the Pios in rebounding, corralling seven boards apiece.
The Pioneers (12-8, 5-6 CCIW) forced 10 turnovers, and recorded 10 assists to 14 turnovers of their own in the contest. The Pioneers had a balanced scoring attack once more, with four players scoring in double figures and all 10 Pios scoring in the contest. Partnered with Kobe's 20, Sophomore Evan Bland had 16 points and two assists, junior Erik Victorson had 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting from behind the arc. Additionally, Naber had 10 points, to go with his seven rebounds, giving the Pios a physical presence inside. There were also two players with eight points in senior Justin Steinike and junior Eckahelo Simpson.
The two teams traded baskets for the first several minutes of the game, with Carroll holding a slight edge, but Carthage staying within striking distance. With just under 16 minutes in the opening frame, Carroll would go on the first big run of the game, going on a 10-0 tear in under two minutes of play. In that scoring barrage, three Pios would score, with Kobe hitting two contested threes, Eckahelo hitting a jumper, and Naber converting a layup and a pair of free throws. Carthage would respond quickly to bring the Carroll's lead to just three points two minutes later. Victorson then stepped up to the plate in the absence of key shot-maker Aaron Wafford and brought a response to the Carthage run. He would drain three consecutive shots from behind the arc, the last of which capped a 17-4 Pioneer run, where Eckahelo, junior Dom Burns, Bland, and sophomore Lamar Smith also registered baskets to help give Carroll to their largest lead of the game. Carthage responded to close out the half, going on a 22-7 run to send the teams into the locker room with a score of 44-43 in Carroll's favor.
Carroll opened the scoring in the second frame with a layup from Naber on an Eckahelo assist just 20 seconds into the half, but Carthage would steal their first lead of the game with just under 19 minutes to play. Carthage then went up by as much as six during the next couple minutes, but a jumper and three-pointer from Kobe would bring the game back to within one. The game would remain within one possession in favor of the Firebirds for two more minutes. Once again, Victorson's shooting ability came in clutch for the Pioneers as he sunk his fourth three of the game off a Bland assist to regain the lead at 60-58 with just over 13 minutes remaining. Carroll would push the lead to five off a Bland three and a Burns layup. The lead for Carroll remained between three and six points for the next seven minutes. Carthage capitalized on three late turnovers to tie the score at 78 with three minutes to play. The game would come down to a free throw battle highlighted by Smith, Bland, and Steinike. Steinike came up clutch at the charity stripe, going 6-for-6 from the line in the closing minutes to help Carroll walk out of Van Male Fieldhouse with the victory.
Carroll will be back in action on Saturday, as they'll host North Park at 4:15 p.m. That game will also serve as Carroll's Faculty Appreciation day to recognize the services Carroll faculty provides to student-athletes.
