WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Carthage College Red Men had their three-game win streak snapped Sunday afternoon at Carroll University's Van Male Fieldhouse, falling to Washington University (Mo.) in their final game of the Nicholas Funds Thanksgiving Classic, 89-70.
 
The loss is the second of the season for the Red Men and drops them to 3-2 on the season, while Wash U. improves to 3-2 with the win.
 
An explosive offensive start for both teams opened the game as 51 combined points were scored in the opening ten minutes, with the Red Men aided the three-point shoot, which saw the Red Men open 5-7 from deep, including 3-3 from Preston Laketa in the opening five minutes, as he led Carthage with 15 points in the half, but the Red Men trailing by one, 26-25, halfway through the half.  The Red Men and Bears would be tied three times and see seven lead changes in the tightly played first half until the Bears grabbed a ten-point halftime lead, 47-37, as they closed on a 17-10 run.
 
After shooting 51.6% from the field on 16-31 in the first half and 41.7% from three, going 5-12, the Red Men couldn't keep the hot shooting hands as Carthage struggled out of the locker room to just 39.3% and 20.0% from the field and three over the final 20 minutes.  Unfortunately for the Red Men, the Bears followed up a 54.3% shooting performance in the first half with a 55.2% in the second half and finished the game 13-26 from three.  The Bears eventually built a 26-point lead in the second half before Carthage was able to bring the score back within 20 late in regulation.
 
Laketa and Sean Johnson led the Red Men in the loss with 18 points apiece and Johnson added a season-high ten rebounds for his first double-double of the season, while also recording four blocks.  Laketa finished 7-13 from the field and 4-8 from three, while Johnson went 8-12 in field goals.  Kienan Baltimore finished third on the team with 17 points and a game-high five steals.
 
Carthage will return home for their next game as the Red Men play their final non-conference tuneup on Wednesday, November 28^th against Olivet College. Tipoff on Wednesday is set for 7:00 p.m. from Tarble Arena.