by Eric Willuweit

Waukesha, Wis. – Garrison Carter scored 22 points, Milos Dugalic added 17 points and 13 rebounds, and the Illinois Tech men's basketball team returned to the win column with a 65-59 victory Sunday afternoon at Carroll University. The Scarlet Hawks evened their record to 2-2 on the season. The Pioneers dropped to 1-3 overall.

The Scarlet Hawks took advantage of 19 Carroll turnovers, scoring 23 points. In addition, the Hawks outshot the Pioneers 50% to 35% in the second half to help seal the victory.

First Half (Carroll 32 – Illinois Tech 30)

The Pioneers jumped on the Scarlet Hawks early, jumping out to an 11-0 lead a little under three and a half minutes into the game, with Carroll's Eckahelo Simpson accounting for six points in their run.

The Scarlet Hawks eventually found their footing, and when Carter hit a jumper with 10:21 to go in the half, the Hawks had come all the way back to tie the Pioneers at 18-18. A pair of free throws by Dugalic at 8:07 gave the Hawks a brief four-point lead at 22-18. The Pioneers answered back with a 7-0 run to take a 25-22 lead. A three-pointer by Carroll's Aaron Wafford with 8 seconds remaining in the half gave the Pioneers a 5-point lead, but Illinois Tech's Otis Reale hit a three-pointer of his own as time expired to pull the Hawks within 2 points at the half, trailing 32-30. Carter led Scarlet Hawks scorers in the first half with 11 points.

Second Half (Illinois Tech 35 – Carroll 27)

The Scarlet Hawks opened the second half with a 5-0 run to jump out in front, 35-32. The Hawks would extend to a five-point lead twice over the next several minutes, the second of which at the 14:19 mark of the half. The Pioneers pulled back within two points at the 12:00 mark at 42-40, but that would be as close as they would get the rest of the way.

The Scarlet Hawks kept the Pioneers at bay throughout the next several minutes, peaking when Dugalic scored on a layup with 2:28 remaining to give the Hawks a thirteen-point advantage, 63-50. The Pioneers pulled within six points with 48 seconds remaining but would get no closer. Carter added another 11 points in the second half to lead Hawk scorers.

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Carter, the first year forward, had 22 points and 5 rebounds.
• Dugalic with 17 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals.
• Reale added 13 points.

Pioneers Watch

• Simpson paced Carroll with 14 points,12 rebounds and 3 assists.
• Paradisio Dante added 11 points

Inside the Box Score

• The Hawks shot 36% from three-point range on 8-22 shooting. The Pioneers shot 23% from three on 7-31 shooting. 
• The Scarlet Hawks shot 43% from the field; Carroll shot 35%
• Illinois Tech committed 13 fouls; the Pioneers had 14 fouls.
• Illinois Tech was 9-16 from the free-throw line for 56%. Carroll was 4-13 (31%).
• Reale was the minutes leader for the Hawks with 33:37 minutes. Simpson played 29:15 minutes for the Pioneers.

Up Next

• The Scarlet Hawks will make the second leg of their three-game road swing on Wednesday afternoon, when they travel to Jacksonville, Ill. to face Illinois College in another non-conference matchup. Tip-off is at 3:00 PM.