HELENA, Mont. -- The University of Providence men's basketball program opened Frontier Conference play with an 83-78 victory over Carroll College Saturday night. 

The Fighting Saints (5-9) scored the first five points of the game, but a three-pointer from junior Ryan Chavez and a layup from senior Nikolajs Atanasovs tied the game at five. 

Following a basket from Carroll, the Argos (7-7) scored nine straight off baskets from seniors Jamil Bowles and Antoine Boyd Jr. to put UP in front 14-8. 

Both teams would trade baskets but a three from freshman Quinn Swanson and a layup from senior Dylan Hushaw gave the Argos a 21-14 lead midways through the first half. 

The Fighting Saints slowly cut into the lead tieing the game at 30, but a three pointer from Chavez put UP ahead 39-35 going into the break. Bowles and Boyd Jr. led the way with nine apiece in the first half. 

Carroll College opened the scoring in the second half but a three from senior Mike Wright Jr. kept UP in front by five. 

The game would see ties at 42 and 45 before a 5-0 run behind a dunk from Bowles and a layup from Boyd Jr. made it 52-47. 

The Argos continued their momentum with a 9-2 run to push their lead out to 13 with just over five minutes left, and despite late pressure from the Fighting Saints, the Argos made their free throws down the stretch as UP defeated Carroll College 83-79. 

Jamil Bowles led the way with 22 points and Antoine Boyd Jr. and Ryan Chavez added 17 and 15, respectively. 

The Argos will be back in action Thursday, January 9th when they host Rocky Mountain College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the McLaughlin Center.