Grinnell men's basketball team set to face John Carroll in NCAA D-III Tourney

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Grinnell College's record-breaking men's basketball season will continue this weekend when the Pioneers compete in the NCAA Division III Tournament regional round.

The Pioneers, who set a school record for victories with a 22-3 mark, will battle John Carroll University at 4:10 p.m. Friday at the Shirk Center on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University.

Grinnell, which has never faced John Carroll in any team sport, has been paced by first-team All-Midwest Conference selection Gabe Garcia '27 and a cast of many others. Garcia leads the team in scoring with 15.1 points per game, while others averaging in double figures are Kai Te Huki '27 (12.3 ppg), second-team All-MWC selection Zach Rosen '26 (11.6) and Sean Murphy '26 (10.0).

Tyler Copes '29, the league's Newcomer and Defensive Player of the Year who earned second-team All-MWC recognition, leads Grinnell with 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks an outing. Rosen is tops on the team in assists and steals with 5.2 and 2.3 per game, respectively.

The Pioneers advanced to the NCAA Tourney by winning the MWC Tournament crown, beating Monmouth College 85-56 in the title game.

John Carroll is 22-6 and moved into the NCAA Tourney by winning the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament. In the championship game, the Blue Streaks disposed of Denison University 84-66.

Luke Chicone was named the conference's Player of the Year and Top Defensive Player. The All-NCAC first-teamer averages 24.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 6.3 assists per game.

Teammate Kasey Hunt was a second-team All-NCAC pick, averaging 14.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.

Host Illinois Wesleyan will play Heidelberg after the Grinnell-John Carroll game. The winners will play at 6:40 p.m. Saturday.

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