GREAT FALLS, Mont. – In only their third game of the season, #14^th ranked University of Providence men's basketball raced out to hot start to carry them to victory over the visiting Fighting Saints Saturday night.

The Argos (3-0, 3-0) came out with intense defensive pressure, racing out to a big 47-26 halftime lead. The Fighting Saints (5-4, 2-3) didn't back down, hitting a barrage of three-point shots in the second-half to cut it ten with three minutes left in the second half. They couldn't close the gap, allowing the Argos to walk away with a 84-75 victory.

"We were defending like crazy in the first half," head coach Steve Keller said. "We've done this three games in a row now. We let them get back in it. Sometimes it's hard to play when you have that lead. Defensively I thought we were really good for 25 minutes, and then they start busting threes on us. Give them credit, they didn't lay down. I knew they wouldn't."

The Argos were led in scoring by Marcus Stephens, who finished with 22. Zaccheus Darko-Kelly also filled the stat sheet, recording 19 points, six rebounds, five blocks, four assists and four steals. Dawson Fowler ended the game with 10 points, three rebounds and two assists. Fowler also spent a majority of his time guarding Carroll's leading scorer Jovan Sljivancanin, whom he held to ten points.

The Fighting Saints had five guys in double-figures, led by Gui Pedra and Shamrock Campbell who both had 14. Dennis Flowers III finished with 12 points and Ifeanyi Okeke finished with 11.

The Argos will return to the floor tomorrow for the second part of the double-header. The game will tip-off at 4 p.m.

"It was a great effort to beat Carroll," Keller said. "Carroll's good and they're going to be ready to go tomorrow. We have to come in tomorrow and get after them again."