BOSTON, Mass. – Junior forward Gerrale Gates totaled 19 points and seven rebounds as the Holy Cross men's basketball team posted a 68-66 victory over Boston University at Case Gymnasium. The Crusaders improve to 1-1 overall and 1-1 in the Patriot League with the win, while the Terriers fall to 1-1 on the season and 1-1 in the conference. 

Senior guard Austin Butler finished the afternoon with 18 points, seven rebounds and two steals for the Crusaders. Freshman forward Judson Martindale added 16 points on six of eight shooting, while senior forward Matt Faw tallied 13 points, six rebounds and two blocks. Boston University was led by Jack Hemphill with 16 points and six boards.

The game was close throughout a first half which featured five ties and five lead changes. Holy Cross held a 22-16 advantage midway through the half, before the Terriers went on a 15-4 run to take a five-point lead (31-26). A three-point play by Gates closed the gap to two points, then Gates later hit a jumper just before the halftime buzzer to put the Crusaders up 38-37 heading into the locker room.

Holy Cross started the second half hot, using a 14-5 spurt to take a 10-point lead (52-42) with 13:46 remaining. Boston University came right back with a 14-4 run to tie up the game at 56-56 with 8:54 to go, and neither team would lead by more than three points the rest of the way. 

The Terriers were clinging to a 64-63 advantage with less than three minutes left to play, when Butler drove the lane for a layup to put the Crusaders back in front. On Holy Cross' next possession, freshman guard R.J. Johnson found Gates cutting to the basket for a layup, making the score 67-64 with 1:41 remaining. Gates would add a key steal in the final minute, and Butler hit one of two free throws with 4.3 seconds to go as the Crusaders pulled out the victory.

Holy Cross returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 9, when it plays host to Army West Point at 3:00 p.m.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
• The Crusaders hit 45.8 percent of their field goal attempts on the afternoon, while holding the Terriers to 36.9 percent shooting.
• Holy Cross won its Patriot League road opener for just the second time in the last 10 years, in addition to snapping a five-game losing streak against Boston University.
• The Crusaders committed just six turnovers on the day, their lowest total since giving the ball away just six times against Navy on Jan. 26, 2019.