CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Senior guard Joe Octave totaled 25 points and eight rebounds, but the Holy Cross men's basketball team was defeated by Harvard 74-72 at Lavietes Pavilion. The Crusaders fall to 2-10 overall, while the Crimson improve to 8-3 on the year.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Harvard opened the game by jumping out to an early 16-8 lead after the first eight minutes of play.
• The Crimson would go on to lead by as many as 15 points later in the first half, before eventually taking a 42-32 advantage into the locker room.
• Harvard was able to build its lead back up to 13 points (56-43) with 11:56 left to play, before Holy Cross went on a 15-5 run to make it a three-point game (61-58).
• The Crimson had gone back in front by nine (71-62) with 3:58 remaining, when the Crusaders used a 10-1 spurt to tie up the score at 72-72.
• Octave scored eight points during that run, including a jumper with 1:03 remaining to tie the game.
• After neither team scored on its next possession, Harvard's Chisom Okpara hit a pair of free throws with 3.4 seconds left to put the Crimson back in front.
• A three-point attempt by freshman forward Joe Nugent was just off the mark at the final buzzer, as Harvard pulled out the win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
• Holy Cross made 50.0 percent of its field goal attempts and 39.1 percent of its three-pointers, while committing just eight turnovers.
• The Crimson made 49.1 percent of their shots from the floor and 45.8 percent of their shots from beyond the arc, in addition to holding a 32-24 rebounding advantage and a 14-6 edge in free throw attempts.
• Freshman guard Kahlil Singleton finished the day with a career-high 21 points on eight of 13 shooting from the field.
• Junior forward Caleb Kenney totaled 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocks, while freshman guard A.J. Wills added 10 points and three assists.
• Okpara led Harvard with 26 points.

UP NEXT:
• After taking a break for Christmas, the Crusaders will return to action on Friday, Dec. 29, when they play host to Elms at 2 p.m. 

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!
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