WHITEWATER- Leading for most of the game, the Carthage College men's basketball team picked up a 69-63 win over Wisconsin-Whitewater on the road Saturday afternoon.
- Final Score: Carthage 69 - Wisconsin-Whitewater 63
- Location: Williams Center - Whitewater, Wisconsin
- Records: Carthage 4-2, Wisconsin-Whitewater 3-3
- Carthage opened the game with a 12-3 run, highlighted by a three-pointer from Riley Brooks.
- Ryan Johnson extended the lead to 20-14 with 9:33 remaining in the first half, but the Warhawks responded with a tip-in to take a three-point advantage.
- Brooks drained a long three-pointer with 53 seconds left in the half, and AJ Johnson added a buzzer-beater to send Carthage into halftime with a 37-31 lead.
- AJ Williams sank two free throws, and Ryan Johnson followed with a layup to give Carthage a 10-point cushion.
- Another layup from Ryan Johnson pushed the Firebirds' lead to 14 with 10:42 remaining in the second half.
- The Warhawks rallied to close within five at the 4:52 mark, but a 7-0 run by Ryan and AJ Johnson extended the visitors' advantage to 66-54 with 1:41 to play.
- A late three-pointer from the Warhawks trimmed the deficit to six, but Ryan Johnson's free throws increased the margin to eight with 27 seconds left.
- Ryan Johnson added one final free throw to secure Carthage's 69-63 victory.
"Exciting road win to lead into conference play next week. Proud of our guys. I thought our defensive effort was excellent, and we were able to hold Whitewater to only 31% from the floor. Need to close out games a little better and value the basketball late.
Ryan Johnson was special tonight. He was the best player on the floor on both ends and gave us the lift we needed in the 2nd half!
Big CCIW opener on Wednesday! Get to play on the road at a Top-five team in the country! Need to be ready to go!"
- The Firebirds start conference play on Wednesday, December 4 playing Illinois Wesleyan on the road at 7 p.m.
