HELENA, Mont. – Carroll College started the second half with a 20-3 run en route to a 72-63 win in the Frontier Conference opener at the PE Center Thursday evening.
 
Zach Taylor scored a game-high 21 points, including 19 in the second half, to lead the Saints, Oliver Carr tallied 17 and Ryan Imhoff had 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
 
The Saints held a lead for most of the first half with the largest advantage, 28-24, coming on a pair of free throws from Carr with 2:45 left.  Montana Tech closed the half with a 7-2 run to take a 31-30 lead into the break.
 
The big run to begin the second half gave the Saints a 50-34 lead with 12:15 left in the game before Montana Tech started chipping away. The Diggers cut the leas to 59-53 with 4:40 remaining but that was as close as they would come as the Saints extended their lead back to 12, 70-58, with 38 second remaining.
 
Tech would close with a 5-2 run in the final 33 seconds but it would not be enough to overcome the deficit and the Saints would hold on for the 72-63 win.
 
The run to start the second half started on the defensive end. Carroll didn't allow a field goal for the first 5:56 of the second half.
 
"We had good energy tonight and this helped us tremendously," head coach Carson Cunningham said. "I thought our defense to open the second half was fantastic. Lots of chirping; endorphins firing. We need that every game because we know that every game in the Frontier is a battle royale."
 
The Diggers were paced by big performances from point guard Jalen Coates with 20 points and center Paul Engstrom with 21 points and seven rebounds.
 
Carroll prepares to play No. 13 Lewis-Clark, Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the PE Center.  It is the Frontier opener for the Warriors who are 9-0 on the season.
 
"Montana Tech did some great things," Cunningham said. "We know There's plenty for us to keep working on. We have another great competitive opportunity with tomorrow night's game. It's a great week for basketball; let's play two."