WAUKESHA, Wis. - Carroll men's basketball hosted a game inside Van Male Fieldhouse for the final time in 2024-25 on Wednesday night, falling to North Central (Ill.) on Senior Night by a score of 80-76. The loss snapped Carroll's two-game win streak and was the 13th consecutive time falling at the hands of the Cardinals. Carroll (8-16, 4-11 CCIW) struggled to get baskets to fall, shooting under 38 percent from the floor and 29 percent from beyond the arc. North Central (14-10, 7-8 CCIW) shot over 47 percent from the field and made 11 longballs, shooting 50 percent from deep. The Pios bested the Cardinals on the boards, corralling 40 to North Central's 34, including 14 o-boards to North Central's eight. 

The games leading scorer was Cardinal senior Terrance Moncrief, who scored 24 points in 36 minutes of play. The Pios had four players score in double-figures, led by senior Erik Victorson. Victorson tallied 13 points, nine of which came beyond the arc. Victorson was joined in double figures by fellow senior Kobe Simpson, contributing 12, and graduate senior Justin Steinike and junior Jacob Naber, who both chipped in 10 points. The Pios were led on the glass by senior Eckahelo Simpson, who nearly had a double-double with a seven-point, 10 rebound effort. 

The Cardinals came out ready to play, scoring on seven of their first nine possessions and jumping to an early 17-4 lead. Carroll's senior-laden lineup finally settled in and brought the game within seven after an 11-4 run of their own. The two teams traded baskets for much of the remainder of the half, as North Central brought a 41-31 advantage over the Pios into the locker room.  

The Pioneers brought new energy and effort to the second half, but North Central continued to make baskets, going up by as many as 13 early in the second half. The Pioneers found an offensive rhythm and came up with defensive stops, as they pieced together an 18-5 run and an and-one layup from Steinike gave Carroll their first lead of the game with 5:56 remaining. The Cardinals immediately responded with a 7-0 spurt to regain a six point advantage, but a Steinike three from the left wing, two free throws from Kobe Simpson, and a transition three on the right side from Victorson gave Carroll a two point lead with under three minutes remaining. A couple of crucial baskets and free throws went North Centrals way, and Carroll ran out of steam as a 9-3 run from the Cardinals to close out the game and ended Carroll's senior night with a heartbreaking 80-76 defeat. 

Carroll returns to action for one final time in the 2024-25 campaign, traveling to Elmhurst, Ill. To take on the Bluejays of Elmhurst University. Tip-off is slated for 4:15 p.m.