WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Carthage College Red Men won their third-straight game on Saturday evening, coming from behind late on a career day by Kienan Baltimore to defeat the Illinois Institute of Technology in their opener at the 2018 Nicholas Funds Thanksgiving Classic at Carroll University, 70-68.
 
The win moves the Red Men to 3-1 on the season, while IIT falls to 1-3 with the loss.
 

"An exciting finish to an excellent college basketball game," said head coach Bosko Djurickovic after the win.  "Illinois Tech is a fine team that presents a number of problems on the court. We were able to persevere and win the ball game in the end.  Kienan Baltimore was outstanding tonight in all facets. Senior Mike Canady took the job of guarding Anthony Mosley who's a heck of basketball player and forced him into 7 turnovers... Proud of the guys, not much time to kick back and relax. Play a talented and well coached Washington University team tomorrow." 

Kienan Baltimore led the Red Men in the first half as the junior forward was dominant in the opening 20 minutes.  Baltimore led all players with 15 points on 6-12 shooting in the first half and added six assists.  Kienan also gave the Red Men the five-point halftime lead, 33-28, as he banked in a three at the buzzer to close out the half.
 
The Scarlet Hawks would tie the game early in the second half at 35-35 before the Red Men would catch fire and build an 11-point lead behind 17-6 run that gave Carthage a 52-41 lead midway through the second half. 
 
With the Red Men battling foul trouble most of the second half, IIT would take advantage at the free throw line and work their way back into the game behind a 17-6 advantage at the line in the half and the Scarlet Hawks took their first lead of the half with just over five minutes remaining, 59-58.
 
From there, it was Baltimore once again leading the Red Men, as Kienan scored the final 12 points for Carthage to give him a career-high 32 for the game.  Baltimore improved upon his strong first half with an even better second half, going 5-8 from the field, 2-3 from three and 5-5 from the free throw line for 17 second half points.  For the game he was 11-19 and 4-6 from three and added a game-high eight assists.
 
Jordon Kedrowski was the only other Red Men in double figures in points with 12 followed by Mike Canady and Preston Laketa with nine points apiece. 
 
As a team the Red Men defense caused problems all night for IIT, forcing the Scarlet Hawks into 18 turnovers, which led to 20 points for Carthage.  From the field, the Red Men went 26-60 and 11-24 from three.
 
The Red Men will return to action on Sunday at Carroll as Carthage faces Washington University at 2:00 p.m. in their Nicholas Funds Thanksgiving Classic finale.