HAVRE, Mont. – The Carroll College men's basketball team again used stifling defense and timely shooting to top Montana State University-Northern 60-58 for its third-straight victory Saturday evening at the Armory Gymnasium in Havre.
The Saints (17-8, 6-5 Frontier Conference) found themselves with an 8-point deficit early in the game, but an 15-point run gave the Saints a 18-11 lead with 10:20 left in the first half.
The Skylights (16-11, 5-6 FC) battled back and cut the lead by two before a three-point play by
Zayn Kirkendoll and a bucket by
Zach Taylor extended that lead back to 26-19.
The Lights cut the Carroll lead to 27-25 with 2:17 left but the Saints ended the half with a 6-0 run, including five points in the last ten seconds to take a 33-25 lead into halftime.
To start the second half the Saints extended their lead back to double-digits before the Lights battled back.
Northern cut the lead to one with under a minute to go but
Ryan Imhoff hit the only Carroll 3-pointer of the night (1-of-2) with 22 seconds left in the game to put the Saints up four, Northern's Warren Edmondson answered with a three on the other end to cut the lead to 58-59.
Zach Taylor was fouled and made one free throw, leaving the door open for the. Trevail Lee's contested shot missed and Carroll held on for the win.
The Saints held the Skylights to 14-of-42 (33.3 percent) from the field and hit 19-of-42 (45.2 percent).
Oliver Car was 7-of-10 from the field and led Carroll with 20 points and seven rebounds. No other Saints scored in double-digits but nine different players scored in the game.
Northern was led by Corban Pearson with 17 points and Nicholas Blount with 13.
Carroll out rebounded MSU-Northern 30-25 and the Saints dominated points in the paint 26-10.
"I am really impressed by the fellas, they have a really strong work ethic and really great team chemistry," head coach
Carson Cunningham said. "They are getting better and they are growing. I am happy to be a part of it and happy to have the chance to coach them."
The Saints close out the regular season with three home games beginning Thursday with Montana Tech. Carroll sits in a tie for third place with the University of Great Falls at 6-5 behind first-place Montana Western and second place Lewis-Clark.
"We have to continue to get better every day," Cunningham said. "It is great that we have the opportunity to play these games in front of our fans. I'm hoping the word gets out in Helena to come out and support the Fighting Saints."
The Saints and Orediggers tip off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
