Men's Basketball | 12/17/22 | 9:56 AM

CHANDLER. Ariz. – The No. 24 Carroll College Men's Basketball team is back in action for the final time before a Christmas break, taking part of the Cactus Classic this weekend in Arizona.
 
The Cactus Classic is one of the largest showcases of NAIA talent in the country, featuring teams from the Frontier Conference, GSAC, and CCAC. The No. 24 Saints enter the event as one of two currently ranked teams (No. 1 Arizona Christian).
 
The Fighting Saints (7-2, 1-1) will play four games in as many days this weekend in their annual trip to Chandler for the tournament. Carroll will open things up on Saturday with a game against Ottawa (Ariz.), followed by a Sunday showdown with (RV) Olivet Nazarene. The Saints will wrap up the event with a Monday afternoon tilt with Menlo, and a Tuesday clash with Vanguard.
 
Carroll Guard Andrew Cook (Huntington Beach, Calif. / SO) enters the weekend as the reigning Frontier Conference Player of the week, after averaging 18.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and four assists per game last weekend for the Saints. The Sophomore is currently second in the Frontier Conference in points per game (16.0).
 
The Saints saw a breakout performance from Isaiah Moore (Fairfield, Calif. / FR) last weekend. The Freshman exploded for a career-high 21 points off of the bench in Friday's 99-point outing by the Saints.
 
2021-22 Montana Mr. Basketball, Brayden Koch (Helena, Mont. / FR) has also been making his presence felt as of late. The home-grown Freshman has started multiple games for Coach Paulson's squad, and has shown the ability to create shots at a high-clip.
 
"We will be challenged down in Arizona no doubt," said Head Coach Kurt Paulson. "Our young group will need to step up in order to win games."
 
CACTUS CLASSIC SCHEDULE
 
Carroll vs. Ottawa (Ariz.)
12-17-22 // 6 p.m. MST
STREAM // LIVE STATS
 
Carroll vs. (RV) Olivet Nazarene
12-18-22 // 4 p.m. MST
STREAM // LIVE STATS
 
Carroll vs. Menlo
12-19-22 // 4 p.m. MST
STREAM // LIVE STATS
 
Carroll vs. Vanguard
12-20-22 // 12 p.m. MST
STREAM // LIVE STATS
 
Visit www.carrollathletics.com each night for a full recap of all the action from the desert, and to stay up to date with everything going on in Carroll Athletics.