BELOIT, Wis. - Carroll men's basketball ended 2024 with a defeat on Monday afternoon, falling to Beloit College by a score of 66-62. Beloit out-rebounded Carroll 45-37 and doubled the Pioneers efforts on the offensive glass 14-7. There were five ties and seven lead changes in the tight battle, with the two teams trading buckets in the closing minutes. Carroll shot just over 37 percent from the field including 37 from beyond the arc. The Pioneers were also 67 percent from the charity stripe in the contest. Beloit shot under 37% from the floor and under 32 percent from three, as well as making 14 free throws and under 64 percent from the line.
The game's leading scorer was Beloit sophomore Anthony Carter, who scored 24 points in 38 minutes. Carroll was led in scoring by senior Aaron Wafford for the second consecutive game, as the South Elgin native poured in 14 points including four treys. Joining Wafford in double figures was fellow senior guard Erik Victorson who scored 13 points and tallied three more triples on his season total. Junior big man Jacob Naber led the Pioneers on the glass, corralling nine boards.
The Pioneers came out swinging as they jumped to an 8-0 lead on the Buccaneers in the first three minutes and change, forcing a Beloit timeout. A minute and a half later, the score was knotted at eight as Beloit knocked in back-to-back triples to disrupt the Carroll momentum early on. For much of the remainder of the half, the two teams were within five points in either direction. With just over three minutes in the half, a turnover to fast break layup gave Carroll their largest deficit of the game at eight points. Two Wafford threes and a pair of free throws from sophomore Lucas Parker helped Carroll stay within striking distance, as Carroll trailed Beloit 33-28 at the break.
A 22-11 run through the first eight minutes gave the Pioneers their largest lead since 8-0, as Evan Bland swished a three-pointer from the left wing off an assist from Dom Burns to bring the score to 50-44 in the Pioneers favor. After a bucket from both teams, Carroll held a 52-46 advantage with just over nine minutes remaining.
Beloit combatted the Carroll momentum with a 13-2 run of their own and with 2:52 remaining, the Pioneers were down 59-54. The Pios did not waiver, as back-to-back threes from Victorson and Wafford gave Carroll a one-point edge once again. Two turnovers in the final 70 seconds sent Beloit to the line after fast break opportunities and the Buccaneers closed out the game, sending Carroll home with a 66-62 defeat.
Carroll starts 2025 with a clean slate, as they move into the bulk of CCIW play, beginning on the road at Millikin on Saturday, January 4, 2025. Tip-off in Decatur will be at 4:15 p.m.
