HELENA, Mont. - The No. 14 Carroll College men overcame a five-point deficit with three minutes to play to pick up a 65-60 win over Montana Tech Wednesday at the PE Center. It was the 100th win in head Coach Carson Cunningham's career.

Ryan Imhoff led the way with 28 points, and Matt Wyman added 12. Both Wyman and Imhoff notched a game-high seven rebounds. 

The game was a shot for shot battle from the opening tip. Tech took a 4-0 lead early, but Carroll responded and tied the game. The score was again tied at 15, but Tech hit back-to-back threes to go up 21-16. 

The Saints took a five-point lead of their own, 30-25, with five seconds left in the first half, but John Chapman hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to cut the deficit to 30-28 at the break.

With 16:05 left on the clock, Carroll built a 42-34 lead, its largest of the game. The Diggers began to chip away and took a 48-47 lead with 8:32 left.

The Diggers built the lead to 58-53 with 3:05 to play before Carroll locked down Tech on the defensive end. Alejandro Santos Piqueras hit a putback bucket with just over a minute to play to give Carroll a 61-60 lead, and the Saints went 4-0 from the line in the final possession to give the Saints the five-point win.

"Man, that was a fun, hard-fought affair," Cunningham said. "I was impressed by our fellas' ability to stay composed and execute down the stretch. I have got to tip the proverbial cap to Montana Tech -- they are very difficult to deal with. Tough team. We rest up tonight and get ready for the next one, another monster."

The win is Carroll's fourth consecutive and gives the Saints the season series over the Diggers who are playing its best basketball in the second season under coach Adam Hyatt. 

The Saints were 21-44 (47.7 percent) from the field and 2-6 (33.3 percent) from the three-point line. Carroll was 21-22 (95.5 percent) from the free-throw line, including 14-15 for Imhoff. 

The Diggers were 19-43 (44.2 percent) from the field and 5-17 (29.4 percent) from the three-point line. Jake Miles and Carson Dummer led the team with 12 points each.

Cunningham gathered 100 wins faster than any coach in program history. Hitting the mark in just 150 games. Carroll Hall of Famer Gary Turcott is the next fastest at 186 games. 

Cunningham's five seasons have been marked with the first conference title in over a decade and back-to-back NAIA quarterfinal appearances. Currently, the Saints sit a half-game up on Montana Western for the conference lead at 9-4. 

The Saints play the first of three consecutive road games Saturday at the Fortin Center in Billings against Rocky Mountain. 

Cunningham Record
2017-18: 21-4
2016-17: 29-6 (Conference regular-season and tournament title, NAIA Quarterfinals)
2015-16: 23-10 (conference runner-up, NAIA Quarterfinals.)
2014-15: 18-11
2013-14: 9-19
Total:      100-50 (.667)