WAUKESHA, Wis. – Carroll men's basketball put together a strong first-half performance against a very strong UW-Oshkosh squad on Saturday at Van Male Fieldhouse, but the Titans used a late surge to pull away for an 85-76 victory.

The Pioneers came out firing, building a 10-point lead midway through the opening half behind efficient shooting and aggressive play in the paint. Carroll held Oshkosh to 41 percent shooting in the first 20 minutes and carried a 40-38 advantage into halftime. The second half, however, swung in favor of the visitors as the Titans capitalized on turnovers and bench production to outscore Carroll 47-36 down the stretch.

Carroll finished the game shooting 46.9 percent from the floor and 80 percent at the free throw line, while dominating inside with 48 points in the paint compared to Oshkosh's 36. The Pioneers also grabbed 38 rebounds to the Titans' 35, but 24 turnovers proved costly, leading to 33 points for Oshkosh. The Titans' depth was a difference-maker, as their bench contributed 40 points to Carroll's five.

Michael McNabb led the Pioneers with a game-high 23 points, going a perfect 9-for-9 at the stripe and adding five assists. Peyton McKenna provided a spark from beyond the arc, hitting three triples on his way to 13 points and four assists. Dennis Estepp filled the stat sheet with 11 points, five rebounds, and six steals, while Jacob Naber recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards. Lamar Smith chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds to round out Carroll's top performers.

Despite the setback, Carroll showed resilience against a tough opponent and will look to bounce back in its next outing. The Pioneers return to action on Tuesday night as they travel to MSOE with tip set for 7pm.