The Carthage College men's basketball team (1-0, 0-0 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) opened its 2011-12 season on Friday night, Nov. 18 by drilling Martin Luther College (0-1), 82-51, in the first round of the Carroll University (Wis.) "Johnson Bank Tip-Off Tournament" at the Van Male Field House in Waukesha, Wis. Carroll (Wis.) takes on Marian University (Wis.) at 8 p.m. on Friday, with the consolation and championship games on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 1/3 p.m.
Carthage led by 17 points, 27-10, midway through the first half and led the Knights by 20 points at the break, 43-23. The lead went to 30 points, 59-29 at 14:43, and the Red Men led by as much as 44 points, 77-33 at 8:55. Carthage went on to win by 31, 82-51. The Red Men shot 49 percent (32-61), while Martin Luther shot just 33 percent (19-58). Carthage out-rebounded the Knights by a 41-34 margin.
Four Red Men starters scored in double figures. Max Cary (Sr., Geneva, Ill.) topped all scorers with 23 points on seven-of-10 field goals and nine-of-10 free throws, along with six rebounds. Malcom Kelly (Jr., Kenosha, Wis./Reuther) had 16 points on six-of-seven from the floor, including three-of-four from three-point range. Luke Johnson (Fr., Naperville, Ill./West Chicago-Wheaton Academy had 16 points on six-of-11 shooting, along with a game-high 11 rebounds, while Mitch Thompson (Jr., Orland Park, Ill..Sandburg) chipped in 12 points. Josh Dannell and Ben Edmundsen had 10 points each for Martin Luther.