SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Craig McGee split a pair of potential game-tying free throws and Kelvin Potts missed a game-tying shot within the final 20 seconds, as Carroll College held off a furious College of Idaho rally to top the Coyotes 82-78, at the Westminster Holiday Classic.
The Saints (6-2), who led 72-59 with under nine minutes remaining in the game, watched as the Coyotes rattled off a 13-2 run, capped by a Potts trey, to pull within 74-72 with 2:21 left. Sam Cartmell would respond with a trey for Carroll - their 14th triple of the night, but Matt Ballenger cut the margin to two with a three of his own, part of a game-high 25 points. On the ensuing posession, Chris Medina missed a jumper for the Saints, but Andy Garland tipped home the rebound to make it 79-75. McGee would respond with a dunk at the other end of the floor, then after a defensive stop, the senior would head to the line, where he would miss the first freebie, making the second, cutting the lead to 79-78.
After Casey Rogers split two free throws for Carroll, it was Potts who pulled the trigger with three seconds left - trying to send the game to overtime, but came up empty, as the Yotes (2-3) finished their trip to Utah with a split.
Garland had a monster night for the Saints, scoring 23 points to go with 16 rebounds. Medina added 19 points and Cartmell 12.
Ballenger was 7-of-15 from outside the arc for the Yotes, with Noah Gottlieb adding a season-high 17 points and seven rebounds. McGee had 13 points and nine boards in the loss.
The Coyotes return to action next weekend, opening Cascade Conference play on the road at Northwest on Friday and at Evergreen State on Saturday.