WORCESTER, Mass. – Sophomore forward
Marlon Hargis posted career highs with 19 points and seven rebounds, but the Holy Cross men's basketball team was defeated by Harvard 82-74 at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex. The Crusaders fall to 0-5 on the season with the loss, while the Crimson improve to 4-2 overall.
Holy Cross made 48.4 percent of its field goal attempts and 45.8 percent of its three-pointers on the night. Harvard was able to connect on 45.9 percent of its shots from the floor and 47.8 per-cent of its attempts from beyond the arc, in addition to holding a 21-6 advantage in free throw attempts.
The Crusaders started the game hot, jumping out to an early 15-3 lead after the first six minutes of play. The Crimson closed to within two points (19-17) with 7:37 left before the break, when Holy Cross used a 19-5 run to take a 16-point advantage. The Crusaders eventually led 43-31 heading into the locker room.
Harvard came out on fire to start the second half, using a 14-4 spurt to tie up the game (45-45) with 16:29 remaining in regulation. The score then stayed close for several minutes, and the Crimson led 66-65 with 6:38 left to play. A 10-1 run then gave Harvard a 10-point advantage (76-66), and Holy Cross would get no closer than six points the rest of the way.
Freshman guard
Drew Lowder finished the night with 18 points and six assists, while junior guard
Austin Butler and junior forward
Connor Niego scored nine points each. Bryce Aiken led the Crimson with 32 points.
Holy Cross returns to action next Friday, Nov. 29, when it travels to Florida Atlantic for a 7:00 p.m. game.
