HELENA, Mont. – The Westminster men's basketball came up short, 57-55, in a Frontier Conference defensive battle at Carroll (Mont.) on Saturday night at the Carroll P.E. Center.
 
Westminster (10-12, 3-6 Frontier) never found any rhythm on the offensive end as the made a season-low 17 field goals and shot just 33.3 percent from the field in the game. They were able to keep the game close by making 18-of-24 (75 percent) at the foul line and forcing Carroll (15-8, 4-5) into 15 turnovers.
 
Carroll started the game on fire from the field and they jumped out to a 17-5 lead less than seven minutes in. The lead was at 22-11 with 6:52 left in the half before the Griffins mounted a rally. They capped a 18-7 run with a Trevor Bamgartner layup with2:05 before halftime to level the game at 29-29.
 
After Carroll led 33-31 at intermission, Westminster score nine-straight points early in the second half to open their largest lea of the game at 40-35 with 16:10 to play. The Saints then mounted a run of their own, outscoring the Griffins 11-3 in the next eight minutes to take a lead they would never relinquish.
 
The Griffins would make it interesting down the stretch. Down 54-45 with 4:09 remaining, Quincy Bair score five-straight points and Jordan Pryor hit a jumper in the paint to cut the deficit to 54-52 with 2:35 to play. Kenny Woodard answered a Carroll basket with his only three of the night and it was 56-55 with less than 10 seconds to play. Zayn Kirkendoll made one of two free throws, but Woodard missed a three as time expired.
 
Bair finished the game with 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting. Pryor added 18 points after making all seven of his attempts at the foul line.
 
Westminster finished just 3-of-20 (15 percent) from beyond the arc and they were out-rebounded, 35-27.
 
Oliver Carr led three Saints in double figures with 18 points while Ryan Imhoff added 17.
 
The Griffins will play the next three games at home and they currently sit one-game out of the spot in the Frontier Conference Tournament. The first of those games comes on Feb. 14 against Montana Western at 4 p.m. MT in the Behnken Fied House. Tickets for the game are available by visiting WestminsterGriffins.com/tickets.