Contact: Brock Reisler, Assistant Executive Director, breisler@midwestconference.org
 
BLOOMINGTON, Illinois – The Grinnell College men’s basketball program saw its record-breaking season come to an end on Friday night with a 118-86 loss to John Carroll in the first round of the NCAA Tournament inside the Shirk Center on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University.
 
John Carroll scored the first points of the game and never looked back as the Blue Streaks never trailed in the contest. John Carroll led 39-17 with 6:48 left in the first half following a layup, and took its biggest lead of the half on another layup with 29 seconds left in the frame. Grinnell trailed 58-35 at the break after shooting just 23% from the floor in the first half – and 1-of-19 from three.
 
The Pioneers shot significantly better in the second stanza, but John Carroll shot a scorching 58.9% from the floor in half two. The Blue Streaks led by as many as 43 in the second half en route to the first round victory.
 
Gabe Garcia scored a team-high 19 points for Grinnell, while Zach Rosen was also in double figures with 12 points. Mike Lamirand tallied a game-high 22 points for John Carroll, while Kasey Hunt (20 points), Kyle Irwin (18 points), Jack Zapolnik (17 points), Luke Chicone (12 points) and Brandon Rose (10 points) also scored in double figures.
 
Grinnell ends its season with a 22-4 record. The Pioneers won their second consecutive Midwest Conference Tournament title after earning their first MWC regular season crown since 2009.