KENOSHA, Wis. – The Carroll University men's basketball team grabbed an 80-66 win over Carthage College on Wednesday night in Kenosha, to close out the 2021-22 road schedule. Trenton Nickel led the Pioneers with 13 points while shooting 5-6 from the field and 3-3 from three. Three Pioneer starters the likes of Aaron Wafford, Ryan Mendoza, and Justin Steinike scored 12, 12, and 10, respectively.
 
The Pioneers (7-17, 3-12 CCIW) get their third CCIW road win of the season at Tarble Arena. Carroll shot over 54% from the field while knocking down 11-21 from three as well. The Pioneers dominated the second half in scoring, only missing nine shots and scoring 43 points. Half of the Pioneers' points came from the bench, and Carroll collected 15 fast-break points. The Pios forced 10 turners and grabbed eight steals as well.
 
Carthage started the game quickly, using an 11-1 start in the first five minutes to gain traction. Nickel, who recently subbed in, knocked down a three to end the Firebird's run. Justin Gruber (8 PTS, 7 REB) hit a three as well to cut it to six soon thereafter. Gruber and Stienike were feeling it from behind the three-point line, as Steinike's basket cut it to one with 9:06 left in the first half. Carthage hung around and wouldn't let Carroll see a lead until Kobe Simpson grabbed an offensive rebound and knocked down a three-pointer to take a one-point lead with just over six minutes remaining. The Pios and the Firebirds would trade baskets and the lead, but it was Carroll who took a one-point, 37-36 lead into halftime. Nickel and Gruber combined for 16 points in the first half.
 
Josh Hudgens got in on the three-point action as well, hitting a shot of his own on Carroll's second possession of the second half. Less than 3 minutes into the second half, Wafford started a 16-5 run to give Carroll a nine-point lead with 13:46 remaining in the game. Nickel knocked down a jump shot to help propel the lead into double-digits. With the help of Carthage's foul trouble, the Pioneers stayed in control, racking up the lead to 14 points off a pull-up jumper by Mendoza. Carroll finished the second-half 6-10 at the free-throw line after shooting 64% from the floor.
 
Carroll will celebrate its two seniors in the final game of the season on Saturday, February 19 at 4 PM. The Pioneers will host North Park, who Carroll defeated earlier this season by a score of 76-59 on the road.