WORCESTER, Mass. – Freshman guard
Drew Lowder hit a three-point field goal with 6.1 seconds remaining to lift the Holy Cross men's basketball team to a 63-61 victory over Navy at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex. The Crusaders improve to 2-13 on the season and 1-1 in the Patriot League with the win, while the Midshipmen fall to 7-6 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
Holy Cross made 48.0 percent of its field goal attempts and 45.5 percent of its three-pointers on the day, but only connected on 31.3 percent of is foul shots. Navy shot 44.2 percent from the field and was just 20.0 percent from three-point range, while holding a 36-30 rebounding advantage.
The Midshipmen started the game hot, and held a 17-7 advantage after the first seven minutes of play. The Crusaders responded by scoring the next 15 points to take a 22-17 lead, including six points from junior guard
Austin Butler. Holy Cross went on to lead by as many as 10 (33-23) late in the half, before taking 37-33 edge into the locker room.
After the Midshipmen trimmed the margin to one point (40-39) early in the second half, the Crusaders scored seven straight points to go back in front by eight (47-39 with 16:05 to play). Navy scored the next seven points to narrow the gap, and neither team led by more than three points the rest of the way. The Midshipmen were clinging to a one-point lead (61-60) with 15.5 seconds left, before Luke Loehr missed a pair of free throws. Lowder then hit the game-winning shot on Holy Cross' next possession, and a three-point attempt by Navy's Jaylen Walker was off the mark as time expired as the Crusaders pulled out the victory.
Butler finished the afternoon with a game-high 18 points, five rebounds and two assists. Freshman guard
Ryan Wade added 11 points, while both Lowder and freshman forward
Joe Pridgen scored 10 points. The Midshipmen were led by Greg Summers with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Holy Cross returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 8, when it travels to Lafayette for a 7:00 p.m. game.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
• Butler set a season-high for scoring with his 18 points.
• Pridgen scored in double figures for the ninth consecutive game.
• Junior forward
Matt Faw tied his career high with three blocked shots.
