KENOSHA, Wis. – The Carthage College men's basketball team won a share of the 2016-17 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin regular season title on Tuesday as Kienan Baltimore found Brad Kruse alone under the basket with 1.3 second remaining in regulation to defeat the Wheaton Thunder, 75-73.
 
"An exciting night.  An exciting season," said head coach Bosko Djurickovic following the win.  "Great credit to a resilient group of guys.  As I said earlier, I have certainly coached more talented teams but I don't know if I have ever had more fun with a team.  When you win as many games as we have there is something that is right.  These guys from one-to-twelve really did a good job all year long of picking each other up, making plays as they needed to be made.  Even tonight, that last pass from Baltimore to Kruse and then dodging the last second attempt is what this season has been.  I told them in the locker room we weren't going to win by 20.  We have always been able to get through ball games.  Still, 25 games in we have to play better Friday than we did tonight if we are going to win."
 
Picked to finish eighth in the preseason poll, Carthage finished the season at 18-7 overall and 11-5, while Wheaton's season ends at 12-13 overall and 8-8 in the league.  Carthage will now host as the number-one seed in this weekend's CCIW Tournament following Augustana's, 107-77, loss to Illinois Wesleyan.  North Park's win also gave the Vikings a share of the title.
 
For Carthage, it is the sixth regular season conference title, the fifth under Djurickovic and the first since the 2009-2010 season.  2017 will also mark the Red Men's return to the CCIW Tournament for the first time since 2014.
 
Four Red Men scored in double figures on the night led by freshman center Brad Perry with 14 points on 6-9 from the field.  Joining Perry were Mike Stevenson with 13 and Kienan Baltimore and Brad Kruse with a dozen each.
 
Leading by three late in the first, Carthage used an 8-3 run with a pair of threes by Kruse and Mike Kjeldsen to extend the lead to 35-27 at the half. 
 
In the second half, Carthage extended the lead to as many as 18 twice, including with 10:46 remaining after a three by Derek Mason made it 60-42.
 
Still leading by 15 with 6:41 remaining, Wheaton began to make their comeback with a 19-4 run that saw Aston Francis hit three threes and score 15 points during the run to tie the game at 73-73 with 22-seconds remaining.
 
Then on the final possession, Kevin Kozil passed off to Baltimore at the top of the arch and faked a three before throwing a pass to a wide-open Brad Kruse, who slipped away from his defender for an uncontested layup with 1.3 seconds left. 
 
On Baltimore and Kruse, Djurickovic stated, "It becomes a little bit redundant but Baltimore is as confident and under control as an offensive player as we have been fortunate to play.  He can shoot the three.  He is a wonderful passer and he is so strong that he can finish around the rim.  So we want him with the ball in end of game situations.  We talk about this after most games; Kruse just does everything to make your team better regardless of who you are playing.  He goes to both boards very aggressively.  He scores the ball as needed.  He is just a great basketball player."
 
With one last chance, Wheaton's Jay Spencer heaved up a desperation three that hit the front of the rim then the backboard and fell off for the Red Men's 75-73 win.
 
For Wheaton, Aston Francis led the Thunder with 30 points and Spencer Peterson had 20.
 
The Red Men will play in the second game on Friday night at Tarble against No. 4 North Central College at 7:00 p.m.  No. 2 Augustana will face No. 3 North Park at 5:00 p.m.