Behind 29 points and 16 rebounds from Purdue junior recruit Travis Carroll nearly upset state power Marion in Mackey Arena Saturday afternoon.

As part of the Super Hoops New Year Classic - a day full of games hosted by Purdue - the Class 3A Warriors nearly took down the Giants, one of Indiana's top 4A teams, before falling 54-52.

Danville is now 7-1 this season.

"This will help us a lot," Carroll said. "When you lose, it's easier to see what you did wrong. When you win, you might think you did everything right."

North Carolina State signee Scott Wood scored 32 for Marion and hit a tough fallaway jumper with three-and-a-half seconds remaining to swing a back-and-forth game in his team's favor.

Marion led for most of the first half, with Carroll keeping his team in the game by scoring 16 of Danville's first 20 points.

"Travis has been a very consistent player for us this year," Danville coach Brian Barber said. "He takes a beating in there and just keeps on ticking. He does a good job staying under control and has a good feel about the game. ... He's turned into a really all-around player."

After a quiet third quarter in which Marion's zoning and simply more aggressive defense made it difficult for Carroll to get touches inside, he re-asserted himself in the fourth, scoring eight points.

"He was a big-time player today," Marion coach Joe Luce said.

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