NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College men's basketball team tipped off its MIAC slate with a rout of the College of St. Scholastica, as the Knights eased to a 78-50 victory.
 
Carleton (5-1, 1-0 MIAC) cashed 50.8 percent of its shots, going 5-of-16 (31.3 percent) from 3-point range. St. Scholastica (2-4, 0-1 MIAC) was limited to 34.0 percent shooting and made 9-of-25 threes (36.0 percent). The Knights dominated the paint in the contest, out-scoring their guests by a 50-12 margin. The Knights also out-rebounded their visitors 40-28.
 
Luke Harris got off to a hot start, scoring 11 of the Knights' opening 15 points. Despite the senior guard's outburst, the Saints stuck close with the help of Tanner Thomson's shooting, as the sophomore went 4-of-6 from 3-point range in the first half. After a Thomson triple at the 6:01 mark, St. Scholastica was down just 24-22. Both Harris and Thomson would score 16 in the first, but Harris' fellows eventually gave him a bit more assistance.
 
After that Thomson three, the Knights started scoring in bunches and entered halftime up 40-29 after a late 10-0 run. That swing included a sequence where Josh Engelberg hit a three at 1:51 remaining to bump Carleton's lead to nine, then swatted a Saints' shot on the next possession.
 
Carleton exploded out of the gate in the second half, scoring the first 13 points in the frame and essentially putting the game beyond reach. The Knights reserves played out the final 13 minutes and earned a conference campaign-opening win. Carleton led wire-to-wire, a welcome sight in a season where their opening five games have been decided by an average of 2.8 points.
 
Harris concluded with a game-high 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting and three steals. Sam Koelling posted 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting, grabbing nine rebounds. Spencer Goetz tallied a game-high four assists, two steals, and a block in his second game and first start after returning from injury.
 
Thomson finished with 18 points for St. Scholastica, going 6-of-11 from the floor and 4-of-7 from three.
 
The 50 points Carleton's defense allowed in this game was tied for the fewest conceded in a game since limiting Hamline University to 46 on Jan. 10, 2022.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton continues their MIAC slate on the road against No. 23-ranked Saint John's University on Saturday, Dec. 7. Tip-off in Collegeville is set for 5:00 p.m..