John Carroll men's basketball falls to Illinois Wesleyan in NCAA tournament

Blue Streaks' season ends with 73-60 loss in second round

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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John Carroll University's men's basketball team saw its season come to an end on Saturday with a 73-60 loss to Illinois Wesleyan in the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament. After entering halftime tied 38-38, the Blue Streaks' offense went cold in the second half, managing just 22 points while shooting poorly from the field and 3-point range.

Why it matters

John Carroll had a promising 23-7 season and made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament, but ultimately fell short of advancing further. The loss marks the end of the team's season and a missed opportunity to potentially make a deeper run in the tournament.

The details

Illinois Wesleyan seized control early in the second half, going on a 20-1 run to build a 19-point lead that John Carroll could not overcome. The Blue Streaks struggled mightily on offense in the second half, shooting just 22.2% from the field and 22.2% from 3-point range. Jack Zapolnik led John Carroll with 19 points, while Luke Chicone added 18 points, four assists, and three steals. Illinois Wesleyan outrebounded John Carroll 41-37 and held a significant advantage in the paint, outscoring the team 34-22.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 8, 2026.

The players

Jack Zapolnik

A John Carroll player who led the team with 19 points off the bench, shooting 6-of-10 from the field and 3-of-4 from 3-point range.

Luke Chicone

A John Carroll player who scored 18 points, with four assists and three steals in 37 minutes of play.

Mason Funk

An Illinois Wesleyan player who hit a key jumper to help his team build a large lead in the second half.

Noah Cleveland

An Illinois Wesleyan player who recorded a double-double with 22 points and 16 rebounds.

Mike Lamirand

A John Carroll player who pulled down a team-high eight rebounds while scoring four points.

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The takeaway

John Carroll's promising season came to a disappointing end, as the team's offense went cold in the second half and they were unable to overcome a large deficit against a tough Illinois Wesleyan squad. The loss marks the end of the Blue Streaks' NCAA tournament run, but the team can take solace in the progress they made throughout the season.