The Carthage College men's basketball team (5-7, 0-1 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) opened its CCIW-schedule on Wednesday, Jan. 2 with a 71-59 loss to Millikin University (5-7, 1-0 CCIW) at the Griswold Physical Education Center in Decatur, Ill. 

For Carthage, the loss snapped a 16-game winning streak over Millikin.  The Big Blue's last win over the Red Men was a 71-66 decision on Jan. 17, 2004, also at the Griswold Physical Education Center.

For Millikin, the win snapped a 34-game conference losing streak that stretched back over three seasons.  The Big Blue's last CCIW win came at the hands of North Park University, 65-62, on Jan. 30, 2010.

Millikin led the from opening tip, as Carthage fell behind by eight points in the first half, 18-10 at 12:58.  The Big Blue led by five points at halftime 33-28.  Millikin extended its lead to nine, 39-30 at 16:54, before Carthage trimmed that margin to three, 41-38, at 14:47.  The Big Blue scored seven unanswered points to take a 10-point lead, 48-38, at 12:59.  Millikin extended its lead to 17, 59-42, at 8:47 on the third three-pointer of the second half by Trent Windemuller.  The lead went to 19 points, 61-42, at 8:09, and Windemuller's fourth three of the period made it a 20-point game, 64-44, at 7:32.  The Big Blue went on to win by 12 points, 71-59.

Millikin shot 39 percent (22-57), including nine-of-18 three-pointers, while Carthage shot just 33 percent (23-70), also including just two-of-19 from three-point range.  The Big Blue converted 18-of-29 free throws, while the Red Men hit just 11-of-22 from the free-throw line.  Millikin had narrow, 46-45 rebounding advantage.

Four Millikin players scored in double figures.  Trent Windemuller and Tommy Pilackas scored 16 points each, Windemuller hitting five-of-nine field goals, including four-of-six three-pointers.  T.J. Griffin and Jaylon Owens had 10 points each, with Owens collecting a game-high 13 rebounds and Owens picking up five assists.  Tyler Pierce (Sr., Westmont, Ill.) led Carthage 19 points on eight-of-20 shooting, along with three-of-five free throws and eight rebounds.  Mitch Thompson (Sr., Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) added nine points, four rebounds and four blocked shots. 

Carthage plays host to CCIW-opponent and No. 19 Augustana College (Ill., 11-1, 1-0 CCIW) on Saturday, Jan. 5 in a 7 p.m. game at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis.