GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence men's basketball program defeated Carroll College 79-74 Thursday night.

The Fighting Saints (8-12) scored the first basket of the game but a three on the other end from senior Antoine Boyd Jr. put the Argos (11-9) ahead 3-2.

Both teams traded baskets until a three from Boyd Jr. and a layup from senior Jamil Bowles gave the Argos a 15-9 lead.

Carroll College responded scoring four straight to bring the game within two but an 8-0 run from the Argos behind layups from freshman John Floyd and Quinn Swanson made it 24-11 midway through the first half.  

The Fighting Saints slowly cut into the Argo lead the rest of the half as UP went into the break leading 42-37. Boyd Jr. led all scorers with 15 points in the first half on 6-6 shooting.

Carroll College opened the second half with a layup to make it a two-point game but a layup from Bowles and a jumper from Boyd Jr. pushed the Argo lead back out to seven.

Each side went back and forth throughout the half until four in a row from Carroll cut the Argo lead to one with five minutes remaining.

The Argos responded over the next two minutes with a pair of layups from senior Nikolajs Atanasovs to make it 71-66.

The Fighting Saints were able to cut the lead to three, but a punctuation dunk from Bowles with 40 seconds left secured the Argos victory as UP defeated Carroll College 81-74.

Antoine Boyd Jr. led the way for the Argos with 23 points, Jamil Bowles had 19-points and 15-rebounds for a double-double, and Nikolajs Atanasovs added 16 points.

The Argos will be back in action Thursday, Jan. 30 when they host Montana Western. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the McLaughlin Center.