WORCESTER, Mass. – Junior guard
Austin Butler totaled 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals, but the Holy Cross men's basketball team was defeated by Loyola (Md.) 74-60 at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex. Butler scored the 1,000th point on his collegiate career on a put-back with 11:12 remaining in the second half, to become the 52nd 1,000-point scorer in school history. The Crusaders fall to to 3-21 on the season and 2-9 in the Patriot League with the loss, while the Greyhounds improve to 11-13 overall and 3-8 in the conference.
Holy Cross made just 38.8 percent of its field goal attempts and 17.4 percent of its three-pointers on the night, while committing 19 turnovers. Loyola was able to connect on 53.7 percent of its shots from the floor.
The Greyhounds opened the game by jumping out to an early 12-6, before the Crusaders responded with a 10-2 spurt to pull in front (16-14). Holy Cross was later up 19-18 with 12 minutes left before the break, when Loyola used a 17-5 run to go in front by 11 (35-24). The Greyhounds eventually took a 43-32 advantage into the locker room.
Loyola expanded its lead to 17 (51-34) early in the second half, when the Crusaders scored six straight to make it an 11-point game (51-40). Holy Cross would later close to within nine (60-51) with 4:25 left to play, before the Greyhounds scored the next eight points to take control. Loyola went on to post a 14-point victory.
Junior forward
Connor Niego finished the game with 13 points and six rebounds, while junior forward
Matt Faw added 10 points, four boards and three blocks. Andrew Kostecka led the Greyhounds with 18 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals.
Holy Cross returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 8, when it travels to Boston University for a 1:00 p.m. game.
