HELENA, Mont. -- The Carroll Classic returns to the PE Center Friday afternoon, as the No. 23-ranked Fighting Saints' home arena plays host to Montana Tech, Walla Walla University and SAIT Polytechnic.
"We are excited to be home for another three-game home stretch," Saints coach
Kurt Paulson said. "Our preseason consisted of mostly road games and it will be nice to get some home cooking along with finals being done. Our players should play free and relaxed with those things on our side. We look forward to a great classic hosting three other teams and giving our fans some holiday hoops."
Friday's slate of games will see the Saints (8-3) match up with the SAIT Trojans (7-3) while Montana Tech will take on Walla Walla, beginning at 2 p.m.
Carroll returns home to the PE Center after a pre-Christmas showing at the Cactus Classic in Phoenix, Arizona, where the Fighting Saints went 2-1. The successful road trip saw the Saints knock off No. 21 Arizona Christian on the event's final day, winning 94-82.
The Saints are 3-0 in the PE Center this season, opening up the Frontier Conference season with a pair of wins over Montana Tech and then-ranked No. 14 Lewis-Clark State College.
Sophomore guard
Jovan Sljivancanin leads the Saints in scoring at 19.4 points per game, while Saints senior and preseason MVP
Dane Warp is right behind at 18.7 points per game.
Freshman guard
Dennis Flowers III is also averaging double figures for the Saints at 11.8 points per game.
SAIT, a polytechnic institution in Calgary, Alberta, is led in scoring in Calvin Chambers, who is averaging 22 points per game. Four other Trojans average double figures: Charlie Conner (16.4 ppg), Kaleel Faiz (14.3), Gemie Muya (13.9) and Tyis Yellow Horn (13.2).
On Saturday, the Saints will take on Walla Walla, who Carroll took down 84-49 earlier this season in Washington.
"SAIT will be a very athletic group from Canada and Walla Walla has an outstanding player in Gaddy," Paulson said. "We hope to get some fine crowds to come check out this young group that we have as we try and keep meshing before Frontier Conference play."
The Saints and Trojans will tipoff at 7 p.m. on Friday.
The Orediggers (4-5) take on the Wolves (3-9) in the event's opener at 2 p.m. on Friday.
The games will be streamed via
Carroll Athletic's YouTube page.
Friday's Schedule
Montana Tech vs. Walla Walla, 2 p.m.
Carroll vs. SAIT, 7 p.m.
Saturday's Schedule
Montana Tech vs. SAIT, 5 p.m.
Carroll vs. Walla Walla, 7 p.m.
