WORCESTER, Mass. – Senior guard
Austin Butler totaled 24 points, eight rebounds and four steals, but the Holy Cross men's basketball team was defeated by Boston University 83-76 at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex. The Crusaders open the season at 0-1 overall and 0-1 in the Patriot League, while the Terriers begin the year 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the conference.
Holy Cross made 46.3 percent of its field goal attempts and 40.0 percent of its three-pointers on the afternoon, but was only able to connect on 40.0 percent of its free throws. Boston University hit 54.2 percent of its shots from the floor, 38.9 percent from beyond the arc and 60.0 percent at the charity stripe.
The Crusaders opened the game by jumping out to an early 9-2 lead, and were later up by four (30-26) with 6:11 left in the first half. Holy Cross then went on a 9-0 run to pull in front by 13 (39-26), with junior forward
Gerrale Gates scoring five of those points. The Terriers came back to close out the half with a 13-5 spurt, trimming the margin to five (44-39) heading into the locker room.
The Crusaders were able to build their lead back up to 11 points (52-41) early in the second half, and were still up by seven (56-49) with 14:50 left to play. Boston University scored the next six points to close the game, and eventually tied the score at 61-61 with 9:37 remaining. Holy Cross was back up by two (68-66) with five minutes left in regulation, before a three-pointer by Jack Hemphill gave the Terriers the lead for good. That basket started a 17-8 run by Boston University to end the game, as the Terriers went on to win by seven.
Holy Cross returns to action tomorrow, Jan. 5, when it faces the Terriers in Boston at 2:00 p.m.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
• In his Holy Cross debut, Gates finished with 19 points and eight rebounds.
• Senior forward
Matt Faw added 13 points, five rebounds and two blocks for the Crusaders.
• Daman Tate led Boston University with 26 points and 10 boards.
• As a team, Holy Cross totaled 11 steals while forcing 19 turnovers.
