HELENA, Mont. - The Carroll Men's Basketball team picked up their second win of the weekend, topping No. 16-ranked Oregon Tech 83-78 on Saturday evening at the Carroll College PE Center.

The Dan Pearson Era is off to a HOT start, as the Fighting Saints' (2-0) pair of wins at the 2024 Comfort Suites Classic include an 83-78 win over the Hustlin' Owls (1-1), marking the program's first ranked-win since the 2022-23 season.

A lively Carroll home crowd, fresh off the Football team's win over Southern Oregon this afternoon, provided an outstanding back drop for a great game.

The first half was as tightly-contested as possible, with both teams playing fast and free. Neither team could break free, as Carroll's largest lead at any point in the half was six points, while the Owls' largest lead was seven.

A pair of bigs, OIT's Blake Jensen and Carroll's Derek Kramer (Bellevue, Wash. / JR) led their respective teams in scoring in the first 20 minutes. Jensen scored 15 first half points, going 6-7 from the floor. Kramer scored 12 in the frame, adding six boards in the process, and the game would enter the halftime break tied at 41-41.

Isaiah Crane (Portland, Ore. / R-FR) put on a show in the second half. The electric point guard from Portland went 5-7 from the floor, scoring 18 of his 22 total points in the second half.

The second half was just as closely contested as the first, with the largest lead on either side never more than two-scores.

A late Carroll-lead would give-way with 1:38 on the clock, as OIT tied things up at 78-78 on a pair of Jensen free throws.

Following a 1-2 trip to the line by Crane, Jensen missed a pair of free throws with just 23 seconds remaining, allowing the Saints to hold on to a slim lead. 

Carroll converted at the stripe down the stretch, holding on for their second win of the young season.

Crane led all players with 22 points, seven assists, and three rebounds. Fellow Jesuit-product James Lang (Portland, Ore. / R-JR) added 18 points and four boards, while Kramer posted his second-straight double-double of the year with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Four Owls finished in double-digit scoring figures, Jensen (19), Kam Osborn (14), Jamison Guerra (10), and Dakota Reber (14) in the loss.

Another ranked opponent will visit the PE Center on Monday, as Carroll plays host to No. 6 Arizona Christian.

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

FOLLOW THE FIGHTING SAINTS
Facebook: @carrollcollegeathletics
Instagram: @cc_saints
X: @CCsaints
#MarchOn