(Editor's note: Carroll College media release)
HELENA -- Dane Warp and Shamrock Campbell each scored 23 points and the Fighting Saints men’s basketball team treated 411 fans to a 79-61 victory over Whitworth in their home opener on Saturday night in the PE Center.
The 23 points were a career-high for Campbell, who finished 7-for-10 from the field, 4-for-6 from deep and 5-for-5 from the free-throw line.
Warp finished with a double-double, adding 10 rebounds to his 23 points.
Sophomore guard Jovan Sljivancanin added 14 points and 10 rebounds.
“We talked about getting to the free throw line all week,” Saints coach Kurt Paulson said. “In the first half we didn’t, but in the second half we did. I was pleased to see Shamrock aggressive on offense and I thought Dane had one of the best games of his career. Gaven Ramirez gave us a shot in the arm off the bench with his athleticism, rebounding and defense.”
Ramirez finished with nine points and seven rebounds off the bench.
In a hard-fought defensive battle in the first half, the Saints (4-2) were clinging to a one point lead at halftime, 30-29. Both sides found ways to keep their opponents out of the paint and off the free throw line.
The Saints shot just one free throw in the first half, a Campbell and-one free throw after he finished a difficult layup.
The second half, however, Carroll found its way to the line, knocking down 16-of-19 freebies to build up an advantage.
The Saints were able to limit Whitworth leading scorer Ben College to 13 points on 4-for-17 shooting. The guard came into the night averaging 22.3 points per game.
The game against the Pirates (5-1) served as the final tune-up before the Frontier Conference season starts in earnest on Tuesday. The Saints face Montana Tech in the PE Center at 7:30 p.m.
NOTES: Former Carroll College guard Isaiah Hernandez started for Whitworth and scored eight points for the Pirates… Whitworth was ranked No. 24 in NCAA D-III.
