WAUKESHA, Wis. - The Carroll Classic is where the University of Dubuque men's basketball team took the court for the first time this season. In a neutral contest, the Spartans took on the North Central College (IL) Cardinals inside Van Male Fieldhouse on the campus of Carroll University. Coming into the matchup both the Spartans and Cardinals were receiving votes in the D3hoops.com preseason poll. A hot shooting night from beyond the three-point line by the Cardinals would push them past the Spartans 81-70 to open the 2022-23 season. 

Four Spartans were able to reach double figures in scoring lead by Junior guard, Sam Kilburg with 15 points on 6-11 (54.5%) shooting. Kilburg also dished out four assists. In his Spartan debut, Bryce Prochaska finished with 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Jaylin McCants (13) and Brock Simon (11) were the other two scoring in double figures. Nine Spartans saw action against the Cardinals. 

The Spartans managed to go 27-62 (43.5%) from the field, but struggled a bit shooting beyond the arc at only 6-26 (23.1%). The Spartans knocked down 10-17 (58.8%) from the charity stripe. The Spartans scored 34 points in the paint and held the Cardinals to only 28 points. 

The Cardinals shot extremely well from beyond the arc at 13-25 (52%) led by Matt Helwig on 5-8 shooting who finished with a game-high 29 points. 

Up Next 
The Spartans will face the hometown team in the Carroll Classic when they take on Carroll University tomorrow night (Nov. 12) at 7:00 p.m.