WORCESTER, Mass. – Senior forward Gerrale Gates totaled 25 points, nine points, three steals and three blocks, but the Holy Cross men's basketball team was defeated by American 73-68 in overtime at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex. The Crusaders fall to 5-11 overall and 2-1 in the Patriot League, while the Eagles improve to 11-3 on the year and 3-0 in the conference.

Holy Cross made just 40.3 percent of its field goal attempts and 23.1 percent of its three-pointers on the night. American was able to connect on 44.1 percent of its shots from the floor and 32.0 percent of its attempts from beyond the arc, while holding a 41-37 rebounding advantage.

The Crusaders held a narrow 10-8 lead early on, before using an 8-2 spurt to go in front by eight (18-10). Holy Cross would increase its lead to nine (22-13) with five minutes left in the first half, before the Eagles scored nine straight points to tie up the game. The Crusaders eventually took a 24-22 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

The score remained close early in the second half, and American held a 42-20 lead with 10 minutes left in regulation. Holy Cross scored the next eight points to pull back in front, and was later up by seven (56-49) with one minute remaining. But the Eagles closed out the second half with a 10-3 run, including a three-pointer by Geoff Sprouse with 1.2 seconds left to force overtime.

American opened the extra session by scoring nine of the first 11 points to go up by seven (68-61). The Crusaders would get no closer than four points the rest of the way, and the Eagles held on to pull out the victory.

Junior guard Joe Octave finished the game with 12 points and nine rebounds, while freshman guard Will Batchelder added 10 points and two assists. Elijah Stephens led American with 21 points and five assists.

Holy Cross returns to action on Sunday, Jan. 8, when it plays host to Loyola (Md.) at 1:00 p.m.

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