DULUTH, Minn. – The Carleton College men's basketball team rode an excellent shooting day, four double-digit scorers, and a double-double from Matt Banovetz to a comfortable 77-63 victory over the College of St. Scholastica.

The starting lineup for Carleton (11-7, 8-5 MIAC) performed to a man, as four of the five starters scored in double digits, and all shot 50 percent or better. Banovetz led the line, scoring 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting (4-of-8 from 3) with 11 rebounds for his third double-double on the campaign. Luke Harris netted 18 points with three steals, Alex Gibbens tallied 12 points and four assists, and Sam Koelling scored 10.  The only single-digit scorer, Spencer Goetz, was still a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and mixed in four assists and two steals.

The Knights shot 54.9 percent on the afternoon, their best mark in MIAC play this year. They knocked down 10-of-24 3-pointers (41.7 percent) and 11-of-16 free throws (68.8 percent). The visitors purloined 10 steals, racked up 14 points off turnovers, and won the contest on the boards, 31-26.

Spencer Goetz got a turnaround jumper to fall for the opening bucket, and the Knights got off to a 10-4 start. Kevin Thomas briefly recaptured the lead for St. Scholastica (2-16, 1-12 MIAC) with a transition layup at 11:28, but a minute later Matt Banovetz pump faked, got his man in the air, and drove to the cup to give Carleton a 16-14 lead they would hold for the remainder of the contest.

Both teams then suffered a 3-minute field goal drought, but Carleton would heat up in the final seven minutes of the opening half and extend their advantage. Goetz would bookend the frame with another make in the lane at 10 seconds to go to extend the Knights' lead to 42-32 when the horn blew.

The Knights turned it up in the second, making the first three baskets from the field, and eventually extending their edge to 17 points at the 14-minute mark. Over the remaining time, the closest the Saints would get was 13 as Carleton continued to out-shoot the home team and triumphed for the fourth time in their last five games.

The Saints put 15 players on the floor in the game, so few individuals were able to stack up much production. Noah Winesett led the team in scoring with 14 points, and Koy Nelson was the only other St. Scholastica player over 10 with 11 points. The Saints shot 45.8 percent overall, 32.0 percent from three (8-of-25) and 57.9 percent from the line (11-of-19).
 
Up Next for the Knights:
Cross-town rival St. Olaf College comes to West Gym on Wednesday, Jan. 31. The Knights have already retained the Goat Trophy by winning at St. Olaf back on Dec. 4.

The game, tipping off at 7:00 PM, is sponsored by Carleton's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the Student Activities Office (SAO), and the first 100 students to attend can receive a complimentary bucket hat. The NCAA Division III National Champion Carleton Women's Cross Country team will also be honored at halftime.