Northfield, Minn. -- Dan Forkrud (Sr./Rosemount, Minn.) scored a season-high 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Zach Johnson (Fy./Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) added 22 points and the Knights dominated every facet of the game in dismantling St. Olaf, 85-55.
The win allowed the Knights to maintain possession of the Goat Trophy for the 16th time in the last 17 years. The Oles needed a sweep of the season series to gain control of the 92-year old trophy. Carleton has won 16 of the last 21 match-ups with its Northfield rival.
The 30-point margin of victory matches the largest in 91 years in the series and is the largest in the modern era. The Knights beat St. Olaf, 39-9, back in 1915 when teams still held a jump ball after every successful basket and there was no center-court line.
Carleton (8-5, 5-3 MIAC) won for the fifth straight time in MIAC play and moved into a four-way tie for second place in the conference standings. The Knights left little doubt as to the outcome, drilling their first three 3-pointers and bolting to a 19-6 lead a little more than five minutes into the contest. Forkrud spearheaded the dominating first half, scoring 18 points on a perfect 8-for-8 shooting.
The second half saw the Knights maintain at least a 20-point margin as the Knights cruised to their fifth straight MIAC win after dropping their first three conference contests this season.
The Knights shot 54 percent from the field and made 11-of-21 shots from beyond the arc. They were 18-of-22 from the line, outrebounded the Oles 32-28 and had but 11 turnovers in perhaps the most decisive win in the 177 meetings between the two schools.
Jon Bain had 11 points for the Oles but was limited to 22 minutes due to foul problems. Steve Banick added 10 points and four rebounds. The Oles shot a frigid 29 percent in the first half, including 1-for-11 from three-point range, while the Knights got many open looks at the basket, knocking down 67 percent of their attempts and 6-of-11 from three-point range. The Oles finished at 30 percent from the field and made only 5-of-24 from three-point range.
Jake Phillips (Jr./Brainerd, Minn.) added 11 points and eight assists and set the tone for the victory by knocking down his first two 3-pointers of the game.
Carleton is back in action on Monday, Jan. 16, traveling to St. Mary's University for an 8 p.m contest. That game can be heard live on Knights Online.
Postgame notes:
Carleton's 85 points were its most scored this season... Phillips notched his 250th career assist... Forkrud passed the 1,200-point mark for his career and moved into eight on Carletno's all-time scoring list with 1,218 points... Forkrud knocked down two 3-pointers, leaving him with 99 for his career... Forkrud also passed the 150 steals mark.
