NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – Senior guard Joe Octave scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed six rebounds, but the Holy Cross men's basketball team was defeated by Central Connecticut 78-67 at Detrick Gymnasium. The Crusaders fall to 2-7 overall, while the Blue Devils improve to 3-4 on the year.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Holy Cross opened the game by jumping out to an early 11-5 lead after the first five minutes of play.
• Central Connecticut scored the next seven points, before the Crusaders responded with a 12-4 spurt to go back in front by seven (23-16).
• But the Blue Devils then went on a 16-0 run and eventually took a 36-28 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
• Central Connecticut maintained the lead early in the second half, and was up 51-38 with 12 minutes remaining.
• Holy Cross then used a 15-6 spurt to make it a four-point game (57-53) with 6:59 left to play.
• But that was as close as the Crusaders would get, as the Blue Devils went on to win by 11 points.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
• Holy Cross hit just 37.5 percent of its field goal attempts and 34.8 percent of its three-pointers on the afternoon.
• Central Connecticut was able to connect on 48.3 percent of its shots from the floor and 50.0 percent of its attempts from three-point range.
• Sophomore guard Will Batchelder tallied nine points, while junior forward Caleb Kenney scored eight points and tied his career-high with 11 rebounds.
• The Blue Devils were led by Jordan Jones with 18 points.

UP NEXT:
• The Crusaders will return to action on Friday, Dec. 8, when they travel to Boston College for a 7 p.m. game.

BE PART OF THE ACTION:
• Tickets to see the Crusaders in action can be purchased online at GoHolyCross.com/tickets or by calling or texting 1-844-GOCROSS.

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS:
Be sure to follow the Holy Cross men's basketball team — and all things Crusader Athletics — on social media!
Twitter - @HCrossMBB | @goholycross
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