HELENA, Mont. - The Carroll College Men's Basketball team earned their first win of the 2023-24 season on Friday evening, topping Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 105-77 at the Comfort Suites Classic on their home court.

The Fighting Saints (1-2) strong together several "firsts" in Friday's win over the Eagles (1-1).

Win No. 1 in 2023
Win No. 1 at the Carroll College PE Center
First time scoring 100 points on the season
Win No. 1 for Head Coach Ryan Lundgren

The Saints were the superior team throughout, and jumped all over the Eagles right from the opening tip. Carroll began the game on a 9-0 run, and wouldn't look back.

Andrew Cook (Huntington Beach, Calif. / SO) was his normal self, leading the Saints with 12 first half points, in addition to five rebounds and an assist. James Lang (Portland, Ore. / R-SO), however, announced to the world that he is ready to take the next step in his collegiate career. Lang was impressive in the win, and went 3-3 from three point range in an 11-point first half performance. Kendall Moore (Dayton, Ohio / JR) added eight points and four assists in the opening frame to help give Carroll a 56-36 halftime lead in which the team shot 72 percent from beyond the arc (8-11).

The second half would play out much the same as the first, just with a different group of faces leading the charge. Lang poured in another eight points to lead the Saints in a half that would see nearly every player on the team finish with points in their final stat column.

The Carroll bench, in its entirety, saw significant minutes in the second half. Murat Guzelocak (Istanbul, Turkey / SR) ignited a Carroll run near the midway point of the half, with great defense creating offense for both himself and Josiah Cuaresma (Missoula, Mont. / FR). The pair combined for 11 second half points (Guzelocak 6, Cuaresma 5).

Isaiah Moore (Fairfield, Calif. / SO) flexed his athleticism, and brought the loudest pop of the night from the home crowd with his alley-oop slam at the eight-minute mark to give Carroll a 30 point lead.

As a team, the Saints would finish the game at 62.5 percent from three point range, and cruise to a 105-77 win.

Christmas Togai Jr would lead the Eagles, and all scorers with 26 points in the loss.

James Lang led Carroll with 19 points, three rebounds and an assist, while Josiah Cuaresma impressed in his first game on the Hilltop with a 10 point, three rebound, four assist performance.

The win will not soon be forgotten by anyone in the Carroll program, mainly because it is the first win in the career of newly appointed head coach, Ryan Lundgren.

"I'm so proud of the effort from our team tonight." Said Lundgren. "Their unselfishness and love for one another was evident from the tip. Getting win No. 1 is great, but this team has plenty more to accomplish and we're just getting started."

The Saints will look to even their record tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. in a matchup with Corban (Ore.) to round out the Comfort Suites Classic.

Visit www.carrollathletics.com for a recap of that contest, and to stay up to date with everything going on in Carroll Athletics.