WHEATON, Ill. – The Carroll University men's basketball team lost a tightly contested battle to Wheaton College Wednesday night by a score of 78-71. It was a very physical battle in a game that saw seven ties and six lead changes. Carroll (13-9, 6-7 CCIW) struggled offensively, shooting just under 41 percent from the field, over 36 percent from three, and over 56 percent from the from the free throw line. Senior Justin Steinike led all Carroll scorers with 16 points, in addition to his five rebounds.

The Pioneers forced 10 turnovers and finished with 10 assists. Steinike was the only Pioneer in double figures scoring, but nine out of 10 Carroll players contributed at least 4 points. Junior Kobe Simpson had nine points and three rebounds. Junior Eckahelo Simpson led all rebounders, corralling 12 boards to pair with seven points. Sophomores Jacob Naber, Lamar Smith and junior Aaron Wafford scored eight points on a combined 11-for-14 from the field. Carroll secured 40 rebounds in the contest, including 13 offensively. That marks the third straight game that Carroll has grabbed double-digit offensive rebounds.

Wheaton (6-16, 5-8 CCIW) would start the scoring with two early threes, but a pair of Naber layups and an Eckahelo free throw, paired with consecutive stops for the Pios on the defensive end would find the game at 6-5 just over three minutes into the contest. Both teams would trade baskets for the next several possessions, before a Wafford 3-pointer would tie the game at 20 with just over 10 minutes to play in the first half. Both teams would stall out offensively for the next several possessions as the two would buckle in defensively and come up with stop-after-stop. Finally, with eight minutes left until halftime, Carroll took their first lead of the game off a Naber offensive rebound and layup. The 11-3 run was capped off by a Steinike 3-pointer from another offensive rebound at the two minute mark. Wheaton then responded by ending the half on a 7-2 run, sending the two teams to the locker room with Carroll leading 33-30.

Wheaton came out of the gates and hit another three, one of 11 in the game, to tie the score at 33. Carroll responded on the ensuing possession, regaining the lead on a Kobe layup. Wheaton then hit another three, putting the Thunder in front by one, before Carroll hit another three. Wheaton answered with a layup and Carroll would continue their-point barrage with a 3-pointer from Tyler Miller, giving Carroll a 41-38 advantage with just under 17 minutes remaining in the contest. The two teams would settle in and play the next few possessions around the hoop, trading baskets for the next several minutes. The Pioneers found themselves with a 47-41 advantage before Wheaton would drill back-to-back threes to tie the score at 47 with just under 14 minutes to play. After Carroll took a six-point advantage, Wheaton would again battle back with consecutive 3-pointers to tie the game at 57 with 8-and-a-half minutes remaining. From there, Carroll would hit an offensive slump allowing Wheaton to go on a 12-5 run, spanning three minutes, before Carroll would be forced to take a timeout to regroup. Coach Jannsen's message would light a fire under the Pios, as they came out of the timeout with a quick 5-0 burst to bring the game within two with just over three minutes left, forcing Wheaton to take a timeout of their own. Out of the timeout, Wheaton responded by pushing the lead to eight with under two minutes to play. Carroll would make one final push, but Wheaton hit some clutch free throws down the stretch to seal the game.

Carroll will be back in action on Saturday, when they'll travel to Naperville Ill. to take on North Central (Ill.) in a revenge game. Tip-off from Gregory Arena will be at 7 p.m.