KENOSHA, Wis. – The Carthage College Red Men opened the 2016-17 season Friday night in impressive fashion on their home court, downing the Olivet College Comets, 103-68, in the opening game of the 2016 Carthage College Classic.
 
The win moves Carthage to 1-0 on the young season, while the defeat sends the Comets to 0-2.
 
"A great philosopher told me once that after one game you cannot be any better than 1-0.  We are 1-0 so I'm happy," said head men's basketball coach Bosko Djurickovic following the win.
 
Carthage finished with four starters in double figures as Jordan Thomas had 19, Mike Stevenson had 18, Brad Kruse had 16 and Brad Perry had 11.  Perry also added a game-high eight boards in his Carthage debut.  Sophomore Drew Joiner led all players in the game with a career high 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting off the bench and 5-of-6 from three.
 
While Kevin Kozil was the lone starter not to score in double figures, however he did dish-out 11 assists in the win. As a team, Carthage finished with 27 assists on 35 made field goals.
 
The opening 20 minutes were dominated by the Red Men, shooting 61.5-percent from the field, 16-26, and 55.6-percent from deep, 5-9.  After getting out to an early double-digits lead in the opening five minute, Carthage grabbed control as they led, 22-16, by going on a 15-0 run, led by Kruse six points and Joiner with five, to take a commanding 37-16 lead.  Kruse finished the half with 11 points on 4-4 shooting from the field followed by Stevenson, who went 6-6 from the stripe, as the Red Men went into the break on top, 50-27.
 
On the defensive end the Red Men held Olivet to just 9-28 on shooting and 5-15 from three, while forcing the Comets into 16 turnovers, which led to 25 points in Carthage's favor.
 
On coming out of the halftime break and keeping their foot on the gas Djurickovic stated, "The first five minutes of the second half are the most important five minutes of any game.  If you are behind you need to establish some sort of a rhythm where you can get back into the game. If you are ahead you have to maintain that rhythm in order to maintain or extend the lead.  I did not like the way we finished the first half.  We were 28 points ahead and made some plays I certainly have chosen.  Next thing you know we are only up 23, and it may not have made a difference tonight, but there will be a time somewhere down the line where you have to be able to execute."
 
Out of the break the Red Men didn't let down and delivered the knock-out blow with a 10-0 run to go up 30 and eventually stretch the lead to 36 on a Reggie Banks free throw following an and-one dunk to put Carthage ahead 70-34.  Banks finished with nine points on four-of-five shooting.
 
Carthage never looked back from there as Carthage finished the game shooting 62.5 from the field, 57.9-percent from three and dominated in the paint to a 44-24 edge.
 
With a day off tomorrow, the Red Men will return to action on Sunday, November 20th at 2:00 p.m. in the final game of the Carthage Classic when they host Robert Morris University-Peoria.