NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Sophomore Kobe Kirk exploded for 44 points for the St. Olaf College men's basketball team, but Carleton College used a balanced attack to top the Oles by an 84-75 margin on Wednesday evening at West Gym.

Kirk carried the load offensively for St. Olaf (8-12, 7-8 MIAC) in the game, shooting 13-for-22 from the field, 6-for-9 from three-point range, and 12-for-14 from the free-throw line in the first game of his career where he scored over 30 points. Carleton (12-7, 9-5 MIAC) countered with five double-figure scorers to complete a sweep of the Oles and send St. Olaf to its fourth loss in a row following a four-game winning streak.

Kirk's 44-point outburst was just the third by an Ole in recorded program history, joining a 46-point performance by Geoffrey McCray against Gustavus Adolphus College on Jan. 31, 1976 and a 42-point effort by Dave Finholt against Augsburg College on Dec. 13, 1969. It was also the joint ninth-highest single-game scoring performance in NCAA Division III men's basketball and the second-highest output in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) this season. Kirk's 13 made field goals were the most by an Ole since 2015 and the second-highest figure in the conference this season, and his six made three-pointers were also the joint second-most in the MIAC this season.

Fifth-year senior Josh Albers was the only other Ole in double figures, scoring a career-high 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the field in addition to grabbing six rebounds. Senior Caleb Greer added eight points and hit both of his three-pointers in the loss.

Luke Harris paced Carleton with 23 points, while Miles Frisch came off the bench to provide 16 points on 7-for-9 shooting in 23 minutes. Alex Gibbens and Matt Banovetz each contributed 14 points, while Spencer Goetz posted a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds. Banovetz also pulled down nine rebounds to help the Knights to a 39-29 advantage on the glass. Carleton also held advantages of 50-28 in points in the paint and 13-0 in fast-break points and led for 34:05 of the 40-minute game.

Kirk kept St. Olaf afloat in the first half with 21 points, including going 4-for-6 from three-point range, in the opening 20 minutes. The sophomore hit three three-pointers and scored 11 points in the first 9:50 to keep the Oles within a point, but Carleton went on an 8-0 run to open up a 27-18 lead 2:15 later.

A three-pointer by Banovetz with 1:17 to go in the half gave the Knights their largest lead of the half at 42-29 before Kirk capped the 21-point half with a pair of free throws. St. Olaf shot just 34.5 percent (10-for-29) from the field and was outscored 24-6 in the paint in the half.

Kirk and Albers combined for 34 of the Oles' 44 second-half points, as Kirk had 23 points and Albers added 11 on 5-for-6 shooting after the break. After Carleton matched its largest lead of the game at 46-22 with 17:35 to play, St. Olaf went on a 10-2 run that included two three-pointers by Kirk and two layups by Albers to get within five at 48-43 with 14:13 remaining.

Carleton scored the next five points to go back up by double figures, but the Oles used a 9-4 burst later to cut its deficit to 59-55 on a three-pointer by Greer with 7:19 to go. With their lead cut to four, the hosts responded with a 7-0 run to reestablish an 11-point lead with 5:35 remaining and led by at least seven the rest of the way. The Knights shot 17-for-30 (56.7 percent) from the field in the second half.

St. Olaf looks to snap its losing streak with a home game against Hamline University on Monday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m.