The Carroll University men's basketball team lost on a last-second shot for the second game in a row Wednesday night, dropping a heartbreaker in overtime to #24 Elmhurst by a score of 76-75. It was a back-and-forth battle in a game that saw five ties and 11 lead changes. Carroll (13-11, 6-9 CCIW) shot just under 45 percent from the field on the night, while also shooting 43 percent from 3-point range and 80 percent from the free throw line. Junior Eckahelo Simpson was the team's leading scorer, contributing an efficient 15 points on 6-of-6 shooting, while also recording five rebounds and four assists.
The Pioneers forced 14 turnovers and finished with 17 assists on the night. They also had a very balanced scoring attack, with four players scoring in double figures. In addition to Eckahelo, Senior Justin Steinike scored 13 points, while junior Kobe Simpson and sophomore Jacob Naber added 10 points apiece. Kobe also tallied seven assists. Senior Tyler Miller and sophomore Evan Bland each finished with nine points.
Steinike scored a mere four seconds into the game, drilling a three to get the game started off on the right note for the Pioneers. In this offensive slugfest, both teams combined to score 86 first half points, shooting well over 50 percent. Both teams traded quick baskets until Elmhurst (20-5, 12-4) went on their first run eights minutes into the half, taking a 23-17 lead to force Carroll to call a timeout. The Pios responded by taking the lead five minutes later thanks to a 9-2 run, which was keyed by three quick points by Bland, a layup by Steinike, and a pair of layups by Eckahelo. The back-and-forth barnburner continued, as neither team seemed to be able to miss. Elmhurst grabbed the lead back and pushed it to six points with under two minutes remaining in the first half. A quick response from the Pios off a Naber layup and a Miller corner three brought the game back to within one point. Then, in the final minute of the half, Elmhurst scored three points and Eckahelo made a layup with 30 seconds left to send the two teams into half with Elmhurst holding a slight 44-42 advantage.
Elmhurst delivered the first punch of the second half, going on a 9-2 run over the first five minutes. Carroll quickly responded by going on an 8-2 run of their own, and a three from Miller at the top of the key brought the Pios back within one score, 55-52 with just over 11 minutes left in regulation. Elmhurst pushed that lead back to seven over the next two possessions, but Carroll was not giving an inch. Over the next five minutes, the Pioneers went on a 16-2 run, highlighted by back-to-back threes from Steinike, a three from Kobe off an Eckahelo assist, two layups from Naber and Kobe, and a late-clock three from Bland. With 2:38 to go, the Pios were on a mission to close the game out. Suddenly, Carroll's offense faltered, and Elmhurst tied the game 90 seconds later. Both teams had good looks in the final minute of regulation, but the final buzzer sounded with the score knotted up at 68.
In overtime, the defensive intensity continued, as the first basket wasn't scored until nearly three minutes into the extra period. Miller picked up a foul on the defensive end on an and-one layup, but responded with an and-one layup of his own on the ensuing possession. Both teams then traded baskets, and with 28 seconds remaining in OT, Naber scored on a putback layup to take the lead. Elmhurst then called a timeout and drew up the winning play, sinking a kick-out three with two seconds left, followed by a desperation heave by the Pios that would not fall.
Carroll returns to action for the final game of the regular season on Saturday against Augustana (Ill.) in a "win and in" game with a CCIW Tournament berth on the line. There will also be a Senior Day celebration prior to that game, with tip-off scheduled for 4:15 p.m.
