PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Tim Ward (Jr.-Plainfield, Ill.) opened the season with a career-high 21 points but the Lakeland University men's basketball team was defeated by Carroll University 90-69 in both teams' season opener Friday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies played a solid first half but lost contact after red-hot shooting by the Pioneers in the second half. Carroll broke open a six-point game at halftime, shooting 61.3% in the second half to defeat Lakeland in the non-conference matchup.

It was still anybody's game early in the second half when the Pioneers led 48-40 with 15 minutes, 15 seconds left in the game after a bucket by Asanjai Hunter (Jr.-Racine, Wis.). Carroll would score the next five points, though, and that would spark a torrid offensive stretch for the guests.

The Pioneers set a scoring pace the Muskies could not keep up with, scoring on 18 of their next 25 possessions. Carroll totaled 42 points in just over 12 minutes, and effectively put the game away with an 18-2 run capped by a three-pointer by Erik Victorson to make it 86-57 with 4:01 left.

The Pioneers heated up from three-point range in the second half, making 8 of 14 from behind the arc. Victorson made a trio of threes and Kobe Simpson added two triples in the half, and Carroll finished the game making 10 of 24 from distance.

The Pioneers never trailed in the game and took 12-point leads on three occasions in the first half, but the Muskies cut into the margin and closed within five on three occasions. Ward and Keimar Parchman-Marable (Jr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) both scored 12 points each in the first half, and Parchman-Marable's offensive rebound and short turnaround jumper drew Lakeland within 36-31 with just over a minute left in the first half.

Ward finished the game making 8 of 16 shots from the field, including a dunk and a number of high-flying finishes at the hoop. The Muskies played the Pioneers to a near standstill inside, with Carroll finishing with a narrow 46-44 lead in points in the paint. The visitors finished with a big advantage shooting from the outside, though, as Lakeland hit just 2 of 10 from three, including no threes in the second half.

Isaiah Hammond (Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) also finished with 16 points and added seven rebounds. Hunter scored 14 points and Parchman-Marable finished with 12 plus five rebounds.

Lakeland shot 43.3% for the game, making 26 of 60 from the field, as well as 15 of 25 free throw attempts (60.0%). Carroll made 53.6% of its shots for the game (37 of 69), including 19 of 31 overall in the second half.

Eckahelo Simpson led the Pioneers with 24 points, making all 10 of his field goal attempts including a pair of threes. Kobe Simpson added 23 points and five assists.

The Muskies are home again on Sunday when they welcome the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for a 1 p.m. start at the Woltzen Gym.