BOCA RATON, Fla. – Junior guard
Austin Butler posted 16 points and five rebounds, but the Holy Cross men's basketball team was defeated by Florida Atlantic 87-69 at Abessino Court at FAU Arena. The Crusaders fall to 0-6 on the season with the loss, while the Owls improve to 3-3 overall.
Holy Cross made 46.3 percent of its field goal attempts and 50.0 percent of its three-pointers on the night. Florida Atlantic hit 47.5 percent of its shots from the floor and 50.0 percent of its attempts from beyond the arc, while holding a 39-30 rebounding advantage and a 28-16 edge in free throw attempts.
The Owls held a small lead throughout the early parts of the first half, and were up 19-14 with 8:44 left before the break. Florida Atlantic then outscored Holy Cross 22-7 for the remainder of the half, and held a 41-21 advantage heading into the locker room.
The Owls increased their lead to 23 (51-28) with 16:38 remaining, when the Crusaders went on a 15-4 run over the next four minutes to trim the margin to 12 points (55-43). But that was as close as Holy Cross would get, as Florida Atlantic eventually pulled away for an 18-point victory.
Freshman guard
Drew Lowder finished the night with 14 points on five of seven shooting, while junior guard
Kyle Copeland added 10 points and five rebounds. Cornelius Taylor led the Owls with 15 points and six boards.
Holy Cross returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 1, when it faces Hofstra in its opening game of the Naismith Bracket in the Boca Raton Beach Classic.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
• The game marked the first-ever meeting between the Crusaders and the Owls on the hardwood.
• Butler's 16 points were his most in a single game this season.
• Lowder scored in double digits for the sixth consecutive game.
• Copeland set a new career high in scoring with his 10 points.
