GREAT FALLS, Mont. – A 12-2 for #12 Carroll College late in the first was the only thing that separated the Fighting Saints from the University of Providence in an otherwise close game that resulted in an 86-76 loss for the Argos. UP outrebounded the Saints, forced 13 turnovers, and hit 25-28 free throws against a team that beat the Argos by an average of 31 points in 2016-17.
 
"Our guys did everything they were supposed to do. I think there were a couple of things that I didn't prepare us well enough for," Head Coach Anthony Owens said. "Our guys did a really good job of fighting tonight, we just need to prepare a little bit better."
 
Knowing that the Fighting Saints have dominated the paint in 2017-18, the Argos packed the lane in an effort to force longer shots. Carroll took advantage of that space and hit 3 threes in the first six minutes to take an early 19-12 lead.
 
Junior guard Jacob Wetzel came off the bench to hit a big three that sparked some energy. That energy was most notable on the glass, with senior forwards Steven Daho-Clark and Treyvon Bashir going toe-to-toe with Carroll's Honorable Mention All-American forward Ryan Imhoff.
 
Daho-Clark and Bashir's rebounding, along with a series of free throws from senior guard Sergio Berkley, kept the Argos within 2-4 points of the Saints for most the half.
 
The score was 35-32 Carroll with four minutes left in the period when the Saints started a 12-2 run. That ended with ended with the score at 42-34 Carroll with less than a minute remaining before halftime.
 
That run was the difference, as the rest of the game, including the entire second half, was dead even.
 
Carroll increased its lead to as much as 15 and held a double-digit advantage for most of the second half. UP threatened a push at that lead in the final minutes, however. A three from Berkley, who was one night removed from scoring a career high of 33 points against Rocky Mountain College, brought the Argos within 8 points with 2 minutes left.
 
The Saints missed on their next possession and after grabbing the rebound, senior point guard DuShaun Rice slung a long pass to senior guard Matthew Brooks-McGregor. Brooks-McGregor looked like he would get a transition layup but Imhoff chased him down to block the shot.
 
Fortunately for UP, Bashir was hustling down the court as well to grab the offensive board and pick up a foul. He his 1 of 2 free throws to bring UP within 7 points, but that was as close as they would get.
 
Carroll's free-throw shooting was simply too good for a late comeback effort to garner much traction. The Saints went 31-34 from the charity stripe.
While free throws kept the Argos from a comeback, they were also what kept the team in the game. UP went 25-28 from the line, including a perfect 12-12 for Berkley.
 
Berkley led the Argos with 19 points, thanks in large part to his ability to get to the line. It was also a good night for those with hyphenated last names as Daho-Clark and Brooks-McGregor each scored over 10 points.
 
In just 19 minutes, Daho-Clark put in 13 points with 6 rebounds, while Brooks-McGregor scored 11 points with 5 boards. Their efforts on the glad, along with 7 rebounds from Bashir, helped the Argos outrebound the Saints 31-24.  
 
The Argos are now 7-4 (1-1) on the year and start conference play with a win and a loss for the fifth time in the past six years. Next for the Argos will be a road game vs. Montana State University Billings on December 8 at 7 p.m.