GALESBURG, Ill. - Vinny Curta '19 jumped into Grinnell College's top 10 career scoring list in the Pioneers' 107-93 men's basketball loss at Knox College Wednesday. 
 
Curta erupted for 40 points with the aid of 16-of-17 accuracy from the free throw line to put him at 1,592 points for his career. That sent him past both Dennis Blyly and Julian Marx.

Curta has now made 222 free throws this season, easily the Midwest Conference record and 27 shy of the NCAA Division III mark of 249. 
 
Curta also hit 4-of-10 shots from 3-point land in the game and had three assists, as did Hannes Kogelnik '21. 
 
Ky-Sean Johnson '19 added 17 points for the Pioneers, who had a season-high eight blocks as a team. Will Dubow '21 and Ikaika Phillip '18 had career-highs of four and two blocks, respectively. 
 
Griffin Boehm '19 added five rebounds and Jackson Breshears '21 a career-best four. Jacob Ekstrand '18 also tallied four boards and Morgan Walser '21 a career-high three steals. 
 
Knox (7-15, 5-10 MWC) scored 14 of the game's first 16 points. But then it was Grinnell's turn, as the Pioneers woke up with a 14-2 run. Johnson hit a jumper and back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 14-10. 
 
Curta then hit a 3-pointer and Sean Cullinane '18 did the same to put Grinnell (12-9, 7-8 MWC) ahead 16-14. 
 
The teams went back and forth for a long stretch with Grinnell taking its final lead of 43-42 on Curta's free throw with 1:28 left in the half. Knox closed out the frame with a 6-2 run to lead 48-45. 
 
Curta's jumper to start the second half brought the Pioneers within one, but Knox answered with a six-point run. Grinnell could get no closer than six the rest of the way. 

The Pioneers entertain St. Norbert College at 1 p.m. Saturday at Darby Gymnasium. Senior Day ceremonies are slated between the men's game and 3 p.m. women's contest.