HELENA, Mont. - The (RV) Carroll Men's Basketball team fell out of first place in the Frontier Conference standings for the first time this season, dropping a back-and-forth battle to Rocky Mountain College at the PE Center on Friday night, 86-82.

The Fighting Saints (13-6, 11-3) led for a large portion of Friday night's first place showdown, but a late game surge by the Battlin' Bears (17-3, 12-2) would spell trouble for Carroll.

Following back and forth start to the game, Frontier Offensive Player of the Week Isaiah Crane (Portland, Ore. / R-SO) knocked down a three-pointer to give the Saints their first lead at 15-12 with 11:35 remaining in the frame. Carroll steadily grew their lead to as large as eight points in the first half, but by the three-minute mark the Bears had battled back to regain the lead at 35-34. Carroll ended the half on a 10-2 run, highlighted by an Aidan McGarvin (Eagle, Idaho / SR) triple and a buzzer-beating three from the top of the arc by Lorence Dela Cruz (Winnipeg, Manitoba / SR) to lead by seven at the break.

Crane paced the Saints with 14 first half points, while two Bears, Omari Nesbit and Royce Robinson matched the high-mark with 14 each on the other side.

The Saints maintained their lead for much of the second half, holding a two-to-three score advantage for the better part of the first 15 minutes. The Carroll lead grew to nine at its largest, but Rocky stayed within striking distance, never letting the Saints go on an extended run.

From the five minute mark to 2:30 left in the game, the teams exchanged the lead several times. The Bears emerged on top with the final lead change, coming by way of a Carter McCoy and-one conversion. 

The Saints were not without their chances down the stretch, as an Isaac Round (Northampton, England / SO) corner three with 17 seconds remaining pulled Carroll within two points. but strong shooting at the stripe for Rocky would close the door on the loss.

Crane was outstanding again in the tight loss, leading all players with a game-high 28 points as well as a team-high seven rebounds.

Dela Cruz finished with 14 points, Round added 13 and three steals, and Drew Jones (Puyallup, Wash. / FR) tallied 10 points to round out the Carroll leaders.

The Saints slide one back of both Rocky and fellow Frontier-leader Bellevue, as the race for the 2025-26 league crown enters its final month. Carroll's road doesn't get any easier, as they host traditional rivals Montana Tech and Montana Western next weekend in Helena at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.