(Editor's note: Carroll College media release)
HELENA -- In another tightly contested Frontier Conference tilt, the No. 17-ranked Carroll College Fighting Saints men's basketball displayed their tenacity, bruising their way by Montana Tech 75-66 on Wednesday in the PE Center in front of 1,342 in attendance.
The Saints clung to a two-point lead at halftime, before setting the tone early in the second half.
"I really stressed at halftime more ball movement," Saints coach Kurt Paulson told Rewind 94.9 "They take you out of your offense with their athleticism. Getting out of the gates well in the second half was huge."
The Saints (17-6, 8-3 Frontier Conference) opened the half on a 14-4 run to find a little breathing room, and then endured tough, physical possessions to close the Orediggers (14-8, 6-5).
Tech cut the lead down to five with three minutes left, but the Saints never let them all the way back in it.
Jovan Sljivancanin led the Saints with 21 points on 9-for-12 shooting, adding in five rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Shamrock Campbell added 19 points, while Dane Warp scored 13 and recorded nine rebounds, five steals and three assists.
Carroll shot 52% from the field, 55% from the three-point line and 75% from the foul line.
Three Orediggers each scored 16 points: Sindou Diallo, Taylor England and Dylan Pannabecker.
"It's the Frontier Conference," Paulson said. "Every night is a battle. Tech made us earn it."
The Fighting Saints are on the road to a tough test against recently anointed No. 5, Lewis-Clark State College on Friday.
