Jake Phillips added 15 points and six rebounds for the Knights (5-9, 4-5 MIAC) and Zach Johnson added 12 points and five rebounds for Carleton.
The Knights held the Scots, the MIAC's top three-point shooting club, to 7-of-24 from beyond the arc. Jeremy Sutherland and Kootsikas held Macalester's Abe Woldeslassie, the MIAC's leading scorer and three-point shooter, to two first-half field goals and only 14 points and two triples. Tom Conboy led the Scots (6-8, 3-6 MIAC) with 16 points and five rebounds and Brad Liddell chipped in with 10 points and six rebounds.
Carleton led nearly the entire way, using a 12-0 spurt midway through the first half, breaking from a 14-14 tie game as Bryan Rosett scored on consecutive buckets to cap the string. The Scots battled back within five before Kootsikas drilled a deep three-pointer to stake the Knights to a 29-21 halftime lead.
The Scots pulled within three early in the half, but Kootsikas and Tommy Drake both made triples and Kootsikas converted a three-point play after stripping Liddell on the defensive end. Carleton's lead ballooned to as many as 13 before the Scots used an 11-1 run to pull within three with 1 minute, 42 seconds left. With the shot clock running down on Carleton's next possession, Kootsikas found a seam, drove the lane and his spinning shot was good. He was fouled and made the free throw and the Knights would make 4-of-4 free throws in the final 37 seconds for the win.
Both teams shot 41 percent from the floor and were an identical 7-of-24 from three-point range, but the Knights' ability to get to the free-throw line was the difference. The Knights were 13-of-16 from the charity stripe compared to 3-of-6 for the Scots.
The Knights travel to St. Peter, Minn., to face Gustavus Adolphus College on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 5:45 p.m. The game, which can be heard worldwide on Knights Online and locally on KQCL 95.9 FM/Power 96. The game marks the end of the MIAC's first-half schedule and with it a tough road stretch for the Knights, who have played but three home games out of the first 10 in conference action. They do have seven home games in the MIAC's second-half.
Carleton vs Macalester 1/15/07 5:45 p.m. at St. Paul, Minn. (Macalester Gymnasium) At St. Paul, Minn. (Macalester Gymnasium) CARLETON 64, MACALESTER 56 CARLETON (5-9 / 4-5 MIAC) Mike Kootsikas 5-7 6-6 18; Jake Phillips 5-10 2-2 15; Zach Johnson 5-13 1-4 12; Tommy Drake 3-7 2-2 9; Bryan Rosett 4-6 0-0 8; Jeremy Sutherland 0-8 2-2 2; Tucker Schieck 0-0 0-0 0; Bobby Schmitz 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 22-54 13-16 64. MACALESTER (6-8 / 3-6 MIAC) Tom Conboy 7-12 2-3 16; Abe Woldeslassie 6-14 0-0 14; Brad Liddell 3-11 1-2 10; Brian Ranwick 3-5 0-0 8; Jesse Hollander 2-6 0-0 4; Lars Johnson 1-4 0-0 2; Andy Stein 1-3 0-0 2; Paul Richie 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-56 3-5 56. Carleton...................... 29 35 - 64 Macalester.................... 21 35 - 56 3-point goals-Carleton 7-24 (Jake Phillips 3-7; Mike Kootsikas 2-4; Tommy Drake 1-3; Zach Johnson 1-5; Bobby Schmitz 0-1; Jeremy Sutherland 0-4), Macalester 7-24 (Brad Liddell 3-10; Abe Woldeslassie 2-4; Brian Ranwick 2-4; Paul Richie 0-1; Lars Johnson 0-3; Jesse Hollander 0-2). Fouled out--Carleton-None, Macalester-None. Rebounds-Carleton 34 (Mike Kootsikas 6; Jake Phillips 6), Macalester 33 (Lars Johnson 9). Assists-Carleton 14 (Jeremy Sutherland 3), Macalester 11 (Abe Woldeslassie 4; Lars Johnson 4). Total fouls-Carleton 8, Macalester 14. A-350