HELENA, MONTANA (OCTOBER 25, 2025) - The St. Thomas University Bobcats fell short against the Carroll College Fighting Saints on Friday night, dropping a high-scoring matchup 96-82. Despite strong offensive performances from guards Adrian Cruz and Esteban Lluberes, the Bobcats were unable to keep pace with a red-hot Carroll offense that shot nearly 65 percent from the field.

Cruz led St. Thomas with 28 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including three three-pointers and a perfect 5-for-5 from the line. Lluberes added 23 points, hitting three triples and converting six of seven free throws. Off the bench, Jacob Sterck contributed 11 points in 14 minutes, providing a spark from beyond the arc with three made threes.

As a team, the Bobcats hit 42.6 percent of their shots and went 10-of-41 from deep. They capitalized at the free-throw line, going 14-for-16 (87.5%), but struggled defensively to contain Carroll's balanced attack.

For the Fighting Saints, Isaiah Crane was nearly unstoppable, scoring 26 points on an efficient 10-for-11 shooting night. Kellen Harrison posted a dominant double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Isaac Round chipped in 13 points. Carroll shared the ball effectively, recording 22 assists to St. Thomas' 12 and outrebounding the Bobcats 33-30.

The loss drops St. Thomas to an early-season setback as they look to regroup before their next matchup. Despite the defeat, the Bobcats showed flashes of offensive firepower, with Cruz and Lluberes continuing to prove themselves as one of the top backcourt duos in the conference.