BELOIT, WI – In a high-octane display of offensive basketball at Flood Arena, Beloit College stood toe-to-toe with one of the conference's most prolific scoring machines. While the final score read 98-76 in favor of Grinnell (14-3,9-1 MWC), the Buccaneers (5-14,0-10 MWC) showcased a resilient spirit and tactical execution that kept the home crowd on its feet throughout the contest.
The story of the night for Beloit was undoubtedly the spectacular performance of Anthony Carter (Greenfield, Wis.). Playing nearly 34 minutes, Carter was an absolute force on the perimeter, leading all scorers with with a career-high 25 points. His efficiency was surgical, shooting 7-of-11 from the field and an impressive 5-of-7 from beyond the three-point arc. Carter's ability to find his spots against Grinnell's frantic defensive pressure provided Beloit with the offensive anchor they needed.
Supporting Carter's lead, Will Schubert (Fox Lake, Ill.) contributed 11 points, while Owen Geiger (Fort Atkinson, Wis.) added 10 points and 3 assists. Down in the paint, Dae'Quan Davis (Chicago, Ill.) fought through Grinnell's constant rotations to chip in 9 points and 5 rebounds. The Buccaneers also saw creative distribution from Dasan Reed (Greenfield, Wis.) and Lathan Lewis (Rockford, Ill.), who combined for 8 assists to help navigate the full-court pressure.
Beloit entered the game with a clear plan to neutralize Grinnell's pace, and early on, it worked to perfection.
The Buccaneers wasted no time asserting themselves. Davis opened the scoring with a jump shot just 16 seconds into the game, giving the Buccaneers an early 2-0 lead. The first half was a back-and-forth affair characterized by Beloit's ability to answer every Grinnell run.
The most significant momentum shift for Beloit occurred late in the first half. Trailing at the 4:38 mark, the Buccaneers locked in defensively and executed a clinical 8-0 scoring run. This surge, powered by Carter's hot hand, narrowed the gap and allowed Beloit to head into the locker room trailing by only six points (48-42). At that moment, the Buccaneers had all the momentum, shooting 46.7% from the field and keeping the Grinnell bench uncharacteristically quiet.
In the second half, the sheer depth of Grinnell's "System" began to take its toll, as the Pioneers utilized a 13-0 run to create distance. However, the Buccaneers refused to go quietly. Beloit actually outshot Grinnell from three-point range for the game, finishing at a stellar 50% (9-of-18) compared to Grinnell's 33.3%.
Beloit's ability to convert at the charity stripe also kept them in the fight, knocking down 21 free throws. Despite being outsized in bench points, the Buccaneers' starters played heavy minutes with high intensity, proving they can compete with the top-tier teams in the conference.
The Buccaneers head to Monmouth, Illinois on Saturday to face the MWC-leading Fighting Scots. Tip off from Glennie Gymnasium is set for 1 pm.
