WORCESTER, Mass. – Senior forward Gerrale Gates totaled 22 points and seven rebounds to lead the Holy Cross men's basketball team to a 63-57 victory over Central Connecticut at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex. The Crusaders improve to 3-6 overall, while the Blue Devils fall to 0-9 on the year.

Holy Cross made 42.1 percent of its field goal attempts and 92.3 percent of its free throws on the night. The Crusaders also held Central Connecticut to 35.3 percent shooting from the floor, with the Blue Devils making just 24.0 percent of their shots from three-point range.

Central Connecticut opened the game by jumping out to an early 12-6 lead after the first 5:13 of action. Holy Cross scored the next seven points to pull in front, and increased its advantage to four (20-16) with 11 minutes left before the break. The Blue Devils responded with six straight points to regain the lead, but Holy Cross eventually took a two-point edge (28-26) into the locker room at halftime.

The Crusaders held onto a small lead early in the second half, and were up 40-39 with 11 minutes left to play. Holy Cross then used a 6-1 run to go in front by six (46-40), but was still clinging to a one-point lead (54-53) with two minutes remaining. Junior guard Nolan Dorsey then hit a key three-pointer to make it a four-point game (57-53), and the Crusaders would drain four of five free throws in the final minute to hold on for the win

Junior forward Simon Wilbar finished the game with 13 points and seven rebounds, while Dorsey added 12 points, eight boards, three assists and two steals. Central Connecticut was led by Kellen Amos with 20 points and five rebounds.

The Crusaders return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 7, when they play host to Quinnipiac at 7:00 p.m.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
• With its .923 free throw percentage, Holy Cross had its best performance at the charity stripe since hitting 100 percent of its foul shots (eight of eight) against New Hampshire on Nov. 27, 2021.
• Wilbar set new career highs for both points (13) and rebounds (seven).
• Dorsey's 12 points were his most in a game this season and just one off his career best.

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