Box Score

The Carthage College men's basketball team (15-4, 7-1 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin), ranked 27th in the Jan. 26 “D3hoops.com” poll, moved into sole possession of first place in the CCIW on Saturday, Jan. 30 with an 80-55 win over CCIW-opponent and No. 21 Illinois Wesleyan University (15-4, 6-2 CCIW) at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis.

Carthage took control of the game in the opening minutes, jumping out to a 15-point lead, 21-6, at 10:15. The margin went to 21 points, 32-11, at 5:22, and the Red Men led by as much as 26 points in the first half, 41-15, at 2:52. Carthage led by 20 at halftime, 44-24. The second half was pretty much more of the same. Carthage led by 22 points on two occasions midway through the period before Illinois Wesleyan closed the gap to 13 points, 62-49, at 7:55. The Red Men went back up by 20, 70-50, at 6:48 and cruised to a 25-point victory, 80-55.

Carthage shot 55 percent (26-47), including 61 percent in the first half (17-28), while Illinois Wesleyan shot just 39 percent for the game (19-49). The Red Men out-rebounded the Titans, 34-26. Five Carthage players scored in double figures. Tyler Pierce (Fr., Westmont, Ill.) scored a team-high 19 points on six-of-11 field goals and seven-of-10 free throws, along with five rebounds. Steve Djurickovic (Jr., Pleasant Prairie, Wis./Kenosha-Bradford) had 18 points on five-of-13 from the floor and a perfect eight-of-eight from the free-throw line, along with four rebounds and 10 assists. Cody Hilton (Sr., Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) scored 15 points on five-of-six three-pointers, and Raul Guzman (Fr., Lyons, Ill./Berwyn-Morton West) added 12 points and seven boards. Sean Johnson was the only Titan in double figures with a game-high 24 points on nine-of-17 shooting and five-of-seven free throws. 

“We played great defense tonight,” said Carthage coach Bosko Djurickovic, “and Doug Sexauer was a non-factor for Illinois Wesleyan.  Cody Hilton made Sean Johnson work for all of his 25 points.  This was a good team effort.  Our offensive execution has been pretty darned good all year long.  There are nights we climb on Steve Djurickovic's back, but tonight, he wasn't as fresh as usual.  Overall, we're starting to settle into roles, and we're playing very good basketball.”

Carthage travels to Wheaton, Ill., on Wednesday, Feb. 3 to take on conference-opponent Wheaton College (Ill., 13-6, 5-3 CCIW) in a 7:30 p.m. game at King Arena.