Carroll University made nine three-pointers in the first half and the Lakeland University men's basketball team struggled offensively again in a 74-59 loss Tuesday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

Former Muskies head coach Paul Combs returned and was victorious in his first time bringing a team to Lakeland. Carroll led almost the entire way, while the Muskies dropped their second straight game in falling to 6-4 overall.

Shorthanded Lakeland shot 33.3% from the field, hitting just 17 of 51 shots. That included shooting 32.3% (10-for-31) in the first half as Carroll (4-6 overall) pulled out to a 42-26 halftime lead.

The Pioneers took control with an 18-4 run over a span of just over six minutes in the first half, taking a 29-15 lead on a three-pointer by Ryan Clarey. Carroll continued to bomb away and was 9-for-14 at one point, with Tarren Hall hitting his first four three-point tries off the bench.

Lakeland never quit in the second half, getting to the line 20 times in the half and 28 times in the game. Jequan Pegeese (So.-Beloit, Wis.) scored 11 of his game-high 18 points in the final 20 minutes and the Muskies cut a 24-point deficit down to 14 in the final minutes.

Shakur Jinad (Jr.-Chicago, Ill.) also scored 10 points and Eric Nygaard (Sr.-Plymouth, Wis.) added eight points plus three steals. Isaac Anderson (Jr.-Linden, Wis.) also scored six points and added five rebounds off the bench. The Muskies were playing with three regular starters injured for the second straight game.

Charlie Soule led Carroll with 15 points and nine rebounds. The Pioneers shot 47.4% (27 of 57) and finished with a 38-33 rebounding edge. Carroll also received 38 points from its bench and outscored Lakeland 36-20 in the paint, with assists on 19 of its 27 field goals often leading to layups inside.

Combs was the Muskies' coach from 1999-2003, winning 60 games in four years and leading Lakeland to a pair of Lake Michigan Conference titles. It was the first time he's led a team back to campus since he left the Muskies to coach at UW-Platteville and later Wayne State (Neb.) College.

Lakeland is home again Saturday for its final game before Christmas when it welcomes Milwaukee School of Engineering for a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference tilt at 2 p.m.