WASHINGTON — The No. 8 Carthage College men's basketball team fell, 78-66, to No. 21 Maryville (Tenn.) on Friday evening at the Salvitti Family Gymnasium to open their trip to the state of Pennsylvania. 

• Final Score: No. 21 Maryville (Tenn.) 78, No. 8 Carthage 66
• Location: Salvitti Family Gymnasium – Washington, Pa.
• Records: Maryville (Tenn.) 6-1, Carthage 2-1

• Carthage opened with energy, as Antuan Nesbitt knocked down a three-pointer and Ryan Johnson added a layup for a quick 5-2 lead before Nesbitt pushed it to 9-2 with another finish inside. 
• Maryville responded with a 24-8 run that swung the momentum and moved the Firebirds into a double-digit deficit. 
• Chris Schlesinger scored inside to make it 28-20, and later connected from deep to cut it to 37-23. 
• AJ Johnson added a three-pointer in the final seconds of the half, sending Carthage into the break down 40-26.
• In the second half, AJ Johnson opened with a transition three to bring the deficit to 42-29, and Ryan Johnson added free throws to make it 46-30. 
• Schlesinger scored through contact to pull Carthage to 51-33, while Nesbitt connected on a three-point play and Schlesinger added a transition layup to make it 53-38. 
• Jabe Haith's free throws narrowed it to 53-40, but the margin remained difficult to close.
• Nesbitt later scored at the rim to make it 73-49, and Haith added a layup to bring Carthage within 74-51.
• The Firebirds continued to generate offense late, with Schlesinger scoring inside and Ryan Johnson converting at the line to reach 78-66, but Maryville maintained control to close out the game.

• Chris Schlesinger led Carthage in scoring with 17 points and hauled down six rebounds, followed closely by Antuan Nesbitt with 15 points and two steals.
• Ryan Johnson added 13 points and grabbed six rebounds.

"Disappointed with our overall effort today! Maryville is a terrific, well-coached basketball team that has won over 20 games the past four years. They were the more battle-tested team coming in, and it showed. They physically took it to us, and every time we made a run and got a stop, they got the offensive board. 

On us to refocus and come back ready for another terrific team in Mary Washington that was a Sweet 16 team a year ago."

• Carthage will return to the court tomorrow, November 22, to conclude their trip to Pennsylvania against No. 15 Mary Washington.