HELENA, Mont. - The best start to conference play in Carroll Men's Basketball program history continued on Friday night, as late-game heroics sent the PE Center into a frenzy following the No. 15-ranked Saints' 82-81 win over Dakota State.

Not to be outdone by their counterparts on the Women's side of the action on Friday, the Fighting Saints (10-3, 8-0) came up with some late-game magic of their own in a thrilling win over the Trojans (11-2, 6-2) in the first ever meeting between the two schools.

One of the league's top defenders, three-time Frontier Defensive Player of the Week Kellen Harrison (Bozeman, Mont. / SO), came up clutch in crunch-time - this time on the offensive end.

While the Saints led for the majority of the first game in the new year, Friday's memorable bout featured five lead changes over the final minute-plus of the game. Dakota Sate's Nathan Ojukwo gave the Trojans a one-point advantage with just six seconds remaining, but a young and hungry Carroll squad didn't blink.

Electing not to take a timeout following the late DSU make, the Saints' inbound pass made its way to Drew Jones (Puyallup, Wash. / FR). Jones - who came up with a game-winner of his own in the closing seconds at Montana Tech last month - launched a perfectly placed pass nearly three-quarters of the court to a streaking Harrison. Undeterred by the late Trojan bucket, Harrison beat everyone down the court, and made good on the dime from Jones with a layup that fell through the net with less than one second remaining.

Harrison had a rough go to start the game, picking up a pair of quick fouls, but ultimately sent the Saints to 8-0 in Frontier play with the last second layup putting a bow on his 11-point, four-rebound, three-assist night.

The Saints were also led by another terrific effort from Isaac Round (Northampton, England / SO), who recorded his third consecutive game with 20 or more points. The Carroll swingman had team-highs in both points (20) and assists (4).

Isaiah Crane (Portland, Ore. / R-SO) and Nate Christy (Spokane, Wash. / FR) rounded out the Carroll double-digit scorers, combining for 21 points in an outstanding first half effort before finishing with 18 and 15 points, respectively.

Carroll now sits alone atop the Frontier Conference standings following a Rocky Mountain College victory over previously unbeaten Bellevue this evening in Billings. The Saints will have a chance to extend their best league start in history tomorrow night and give themselves a two-game cushion on the rest of the Frontier as they host the Bruins at 7 p.m.