BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Carroll men's basketball went toe-to-toe with Illinois Wesleyan in a back-and-forth CCIW battle on Saturday night, ultimately falling 72-68 at the Shirk Center.

Carroll (6-6, 1-2 CCIW) came out firing, shooting 54.2 percent in the first half and knocking down six of seven threes to build a 36-34 halftime lead. The Pioneers' offense was balanced and efficient, with Michael McNabb and Lamar Smith each scoring 16 points. Jacob Naber added 10 points and six rebounds, while Peyton McKenna chipped in 10 points and four assists. Carroll dominated the paint, outscoring IWU 34-20 inside and converting 13 fast-break points.

Illinois Wesleyan (10-3, 2-2 CCIW) responded in the second half, using a 14-4 run midway through the period to flip the momentum. The Titans shot 43.1 percent (22-51) from the field and hit nine threes, led by Mason Funk's game-high 25 points and Noah Cleveland's 17 points and eight rebounds. IWU capitalized on Carroll turnovers, scoring 20 points off miscues and making 14-of-15 free throws after halftime.

Despite trailing by as many as 10, Carroll rallied late behind clutch baskets from McNabb and Naber, cutting the deficit to four in the final seconds. The Pioneers finished 49 percent (24-49) from the floor and 82.4 percent (14-17) at the line, but IWU held on with key stops and free throws down the stretch.

Carroll will look to regroup and bounce back in its next contest, continuing CCIW play as the season heats up with a tilt with Wheaton set for Wednesday at King Arena with tip set for 7pm.