The Carthage College men's basketball team (9-9, 3-4 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) snapped a three-game losing streak on Tuesday, Jan. 24 with a 77-58 win over CCIW-opponent Elmhurst College (9-9, 3-4 CCIW) at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis. The Red Men are currently tied for fifth place in the league with Elmhurst.
Carthage led most of the way in the first half. The game was tied, 17-17, at 10:31 and 21-21 at 7:53. The Red Men used a 12-4 run to take a nine-point lead, 33-24, at 4:08. Carthage led by 11 points at the break, 39-28. The Red Men extended their lead to 15 points in the second half, 61-46, at 10:31. The Bluejays got no closer than 11 points, 67-56, at 7:24, as Carthage went on to win by 19, 77-58.
Carthage shot 55 percent (29-53), including eight-of-17 from three-point range, while Elmhurst shot 42 percent (19-45), including five-of-11 three-pointers. The Red Men converted 11-of-17 from the free-throw line, while the Bluejays made 15-of-21. The rebounds were even at 30 each, and Elmhurst turned the ball over 21 times to 16 turnovers for Carthage.
Three Carthage players scored in double figures. Malcom Kelly (Jr., Kenosha, Wis./Reuther) led the way with 27 points on eight-of-12 field goals, including five-of-seven three-pointers, along with six-of-seven from the free-throw line. Luke Johnson (Fr., Naperville, Ill./West Chicago-Wheaton Academy) had 15 points on six-of-eight shooting, along with eight rebounds and four blocked shots. Mitch Thompson (Jr., Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) added 10 points on five-of-10 field goals, along with a game-high 10 boards.
Jerome Robinson topped the Bluejays with 15 points. James Robertson had 14 points and four assists, while Brandon Grubi came off the bench to add 12 points and four assists. "To put a finger on the pulse of this team is impossible," said Carthage coach Bosko Djurickovic. "You just don't have a feel for how they're going to play. We still have a chance to be a very good basketball team with seven games to play, but we still make too many mistakes. Eventually, against the really good teams, it comes back to bite you. Having said that, I thought we played well tonight." (courtesy of the Kenosha News)
Carthage plays host to conference-opponent North Central College (12-6, 6-1 CCIW) on Saturday, Jan. 28 in a 7:30 p.m. contest, also at Tarble Arena.