WORCESTER, Mass. – Senior forward Gerrale Gates totaled 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Holy Cross men's basketball team to a 67-65 victory over Lehigh at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex. The Crusaders improve to 4-15 overall and 2-5 in the Patriot League with the win, while the Mountain Hawks fall to 8-14 on the season and 6-4 in the conference.

Holy Cross only made 40.7 percent of its field goal attempts on the night, but held a 42-33 rebounding advantage and committed just nine turnovers. The Crusaders were also able to limit Lehigh to just 39.6 shooting from the floor.

Lehigh opened the game by jumping out to an early 11-4 after the first 6:07 of action. The Mountain Hawks led by as many as nine points late in the half, before taking a 34-29 advantage into the locker room.

Lehigh maintained the lead early in the second half, and was up 50-42 with 9:35 left to play. Holy Cross then went on a 13-2 run to take its first lead of the night (55-52), with Gates scoring eight points during that spurt. After the Mountain Hawks had pulled back in front by one, freshman forward Caleb Kenney scored on a put back with 2:58 left to give the Crusaders the lead for good (57-56). 

Freshman guard Kyrell Luc would add four straight free throws in the final minute to put Holy Cross up by six (66-60). But Jake Betlow converted a four-point play on Lehigh's next possession, and the Mountain Hawks would get the ball back down by three (67-64) with 4.3 seconds to go. Tyler Whitney-Sidney then hit one free throw and Jeameril Wilson grabbed an offensive rebound after a miss to give Lehigh life. But Wilson was fouled and missed both free throws as the Crusaders held on for the victory.

Luc finished the night with 16 points and six rebounds, while Kenney totaled four points, nine rebounds, four blocks and two steals. Wilson led the Mountain Hawks with 16 points and 13 boards.

Holy Cross will return to action on Monday, Jan. 31, when it travels to Boston University for a 7:00 p.m. game.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
• Gates' double-double was his fourth in the last five games and his eighth overall this season.
• The Crusaders' +9 rebound margin was their best against a Patriot League opponent this year.
• Kenney set a new career high with his four blocked shots.