NORTHFIELD, Minn. - Despite a game-high 26-point effort from Jeremy Beckler (Jr./Lino Lakes, Minn./White Bear Lake), the Carleton College men's basketball team suffered a Senior Day loss to crosstown foe St. Olaf College, 82-69.
 
Alex Battist (Sr./Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove), the lone senior on the Carleton (14-6, 11-5 MIAC) roster, was recognized prior to the game for his contributions to the Knights over his time on campus. Battist is averaging 10.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. Those tallies rank 29th, eighth, and fourth in the MIAC.
 
The Knights won the first meeting between the two schools back in mid-January, so Carleton's possession of the Goat Trophy was already secure. However, the Oles (14-9, 10-8 MIAC) entered Saturday's grudge match as winners of their previous five contests including victories over conference titans Augsburg and Saint John's, the former of which was nationally ranked at the time.
 
St. Olaf shot 58 percent in this game, including 7-of-15 (47 percent) from 3-point range. Carleton made 46 percent of its attempts, while going 11-of-24 (46 percent) beyond the arc.
 
Carleton led early in the contest, 6-2, as the Oles missed 3-of their first-4 shots. The visitors then caught fire, hitting their next six field-goal attempts, including a trio of 3-pointers. That was part of a longer 26-8 run that allowed St. Olaf to build a double-digit lead. The Knights would get no closer than six points the rest of the afternoon.
 
This was Beckler's 15th career game of at least 20 points and the most points he's ever scored in a home game. The Carleton big man made six 3-pointers to establish a new career high. Luke Harris (Fy./Piedmont, Calif./Piedmont) chipped in 14 points but was the only other Knight in double figures. Battist finished with a team-leading 10 rebounds to go along with his eight points.
 
All five starters finished in double figures for St. Olaf. Guard Dominic Bledsoe racked up 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting with a trio of 3-pointers in the first half. Backcourt mate Connor Martin went 8-of-12 from the field and registered 18 points with a game-high eight assists. Nathan Hendler, Charlie Haff, and Michael Meriggioli all tacked on at least 10 points and seven rebounds.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton has two remaining regular-season games, both at home. The first is a Valentine's Day doubleheader against Saint Mary's University on Monday, Feb. 14. The men's game is slated for a  7:45 p.m. start. The Knights will then welcome Bethel University for the regular season finale on Feb. 16 before gearing up for the MIAC Playoffs.