BRONX, N.Y. – Senior forward Gerrale Gates recorded a double-double for the third straight game with 19 points and 10 rebounds, but the Holy Cross men's basketball team was defeated by Illinois-Chicago 89-66 in its final game of the Tom Konchalski Classic at Rose Hill Gymnasium. The Crusaders fall to 1-5 overall, while the Flames improve to 4-2 on the year.

Holy Cross finished the game with a 46-34 rebounding advantage, but was only able to make 37.7 percent of its field goal attempts and 22.2 percent of its shots from three-point range. Illinois-Chicago was able to connect on 47.5 percent of its shots from the floor and 36.0 percent of its three-pointers, while committing just six turnovers.

The game was close early on, and the Flames held a 19-16 lead with 9:42 remaining in the first half. Illinois-Chicago scored the next six points to go up by nine (25-16), and later held a 35-28 advantage with four minutes left before the break. The Flames then closed out the half with a 10-6 spurt to take an 11-point lead (45-34) into the locker room. 

Illinois-Chicago increased its lead to 23 (62-39) with 14:39 remaining, and was still up by 22 (71-49) with 11 minutes to go. The Crusaders then used a quick 9-2 run to trim the gap to 15 (78-53), but that was as close as Holy Cross would get as the Flames eventually posted a 23-point victory.

Junior guard Joe Octave finished the game with 13 points and seven rebounds, while junior guard Bo Montgomery had 13 points and three assists. Illinois-Chicago was led by Toby Okani with 20 points and 13 boards.

The Crusaders return to action on Sunday, Nov. 27, when they play host to Colby-Sawyer at 1:00 p.m.

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