In a gritty battle on Thursday night, the Orange men’s basketball team defeated the Carrboro Jaguars 75-70 at Jaguars Gymnasium. For the second straight week, the Panthers had to battle in the fourth quarter without its leading scorer, Joey McMullin, who fouled out. Junior Jason Franklin was more than up to the challenge. He finished with 13 points, but Franklin had several huge steals on defense late in the game, including one when Carrboro attempted to tie the game. Franklin knocked the ball away from Carrboro’s T.K. Paisant, dove on the floor and drew a foul. Franklin sank both free throws to seal the win. It was Orange’s final tuneup before its Big 8 Conference opener against East Chapel Hill. The Panthers host the Wildcats on Tuesday night at 7 in Hillsborough.