Box Score HELENA, Mont. – Geoff Payne scored 33 points including two free throws with two second left in overtime to help No. 1 Westminster escape with a 75-73 win against No. 13 Carroll College on Thursday night. The win improves the Griffins to 19-1 on the season and 5-0 in the Frontier Conference. The win also snaps a five-game losing streak against Carroll in Helena.

Westminster scored the final 11 points of the opening half to take a 29-23 lead into the intermission. That lead would remain until the final minutes of regulation when Carroll would finally get the lead back. The team's would trade baskets and eventually overtime was required. Carroll led 69-66 midway through the extra period when Jordan Jacobs connected on a three from the corner to tie the game. Again the teams would trade baskets, and then with the game tied at 73, Geoff Payne stole the ball and was fouled by Chris Medina with two seconds left. Payne stepped up and made both free throws to secure the Westminster victory.

“We've had some close games,” said Griffins head coach Tommy Connor. “It was a terrific college basketball game, a terrific environment.

“Really, we got kind of lucky in the end; to get two free throws. The kid made a mistake and fouled him. I feel badly that the game had to end on that.”

Payne also led Westminster with six rebounds. Jacobs finished the night with 10 points and connected on two from beyond the arc.

Chad Vaculin led Carroll (13-2, 3-1 Frontier) with 17 points despite twice leaving the game with leg cramps. Medina scored 14 points, including 11 after halftime.

Now Westminster will travel to Billings, Montana for a Saturday afternoon game against Rocky Mountain College. That game will tipoff at 4:00 p.m. on January 24.