WORCESTER, Mass. – Senior forward
Gerrale Gates totaled 27 points, 14 rebounds, three steals and two assists to lead the Holy Cross men's basketball team to a 79-74 victory over Lafayette at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex. The Crusaders improve to 3-12 overall and 1-2 in the Patriot League with the win, while the Leopards fall to 3-9 on the season and 0-1 in the conference.
Holy Cross made 55.4 percent of its field goal attempts on the night, including 72.7 percent in the second half. The Crusaders also had just eight turnovers while holding a 36-32 rebounding advantage. Lafayette shots 46.2 percent from the floor and 30.8 percent from three-point range.
The Leopards opened the game by scoring the first seven points, but Holy Cross responded with an 8-2 run to trim the gap. Lafayette was later up 21-16, when the Crusaders used a 12-2 spurt to claim the lead (28-23). The Leopards scored the next eight points to pull back in front, and went on to take a 38-34 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
Lafayette increased its lead to 11 (49-38) early in the second half, and was still up by 10 (54-44) with 13 minutes left to play. Holy Cross scored the next eight points to make it a two-point game, but still trailed 61-54 with 9:29 remaining. The Crusaders then went on an 11-0 run to take the lead for good, including five points from sophomore guard
Bo Montgomery. Holy Cross then held on for the win, despite making just six of 12 free throws in the final minute.
Montgomery finished the night with 21 points and six rebounds, while sophomore guard
Judson Martindale added 10 points The Leopards were led by Tyrone Perry with 18 points, five rebounds and five assists.
The Crusaders return to action on Monday, Jan. 10, when they travel to Lehigh for a 7:00 p.m. game.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
• Gates tied his career high by scoring 27 points, and set a new career high with his 14 rebounds.
• Montgomery hit the 20-point mark for the first time in his collegiate career.
• Holy Cross improved to 3-0 on the season when hitting at least 50 percent of its field goal attempts.
