St. Norbert Falls to Carroll in MWC Tournament Title Game

From Sports Information Director, February 25, 2012 | Men's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - St. Norbert College couldn't overcome a slow start in the championship game of the Midwest Conference Tournament and suffered an 87-65 loss to Carroll University at the Lake Forest College Sports Center.

The Green Knights (16-9) finished the year with 10 wins in their last 14 games. Carroll (16-9) clinched the Midwest Conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

St. Norbert couldn't hold off a white-hot Carroll offense, which shot 72.4 percent (21-for-29) from the floor in the first half to build a 51-22 halftime lead. The Green Knights trailed 27-18 with 8 minutes 53 seconds left in the first half but the Pioneers went on a 15-1 run lead to take a 42-19 lead with 3:21 left.

The Green Knights trailed by as many as 33 points early in the second half but rallied to pull to within 14 at 68-54 with 9:01 left, but couldn't draw closer.

Jack Whalen led St. Norbert with 19 points off the bench. Brandon Gries had 15 points, while Andrew Schwoerer and Paul Appleton had 12 points apiece. The Green Knights shot 36.1 percent (22-for-61) from the floor.

Kevin Hurd led Carroll with 22 points. The Pioneers finished shooting 58.2 percent (32-for-55) from the floor.