ALBANY, N.Y. — Sophomore guard Joe Nugent scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Holy Cross men's basketball team to a 78-70 victory over Siena at MVP Arena. The Crusaders improve to 7-5 on the year with the win, while the Saints fall to 5-7 overall.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
• Holy Cross made 45.5 percent of its field goal attempts, 51.7 percent of its three-pointers and 81.3 percent of its foul shots on the night.
• Siena was able to connect on 49.1 percent of its shots from the floor, but only hit 26.7 percent from beyond the arc and 66.7 percent at the free throw line.
• Freshman guard Max Green finished the game with 15 points and six assists, while senior forward Caleb Kenney added 13 points and two rebounds. 
• The Saints were led by Marcus Jackson and Justice Shoats with 17 points each.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The game was close throughout a first half that featured six ties and five lead changes. 
• Siena held a 14-8 lead early on, before Holy Cross scored the next nine points to pull in front.
• The Crusaders eventually held a 27-23 advantage heading into the locker room at halftime.
• Holy Cross was still up by two (47-45) with 13:27 left, when it went on a 13-3 run to extend the lead to 12 points (60-48), including five points from Nugent.
• The Crusaders were later up by 15 (67-52) with 5:47 to go, before the Saints used a 16-6 spurt to trim the deficit to five (73-68) with 1:18 remaining.
• But sophomore guard DeAndre Williams scored a key basket on the next possession and Holy Cross held on to win by eight.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
• The Crusaders made 15 three-pointers as a team, tying the school single game record (previously set against Army on Jan. 11, 2006, and New Hampshire on Nov. 19, 2015.
• Holy Cross' seven non-conference victories this year are its most since going 9-4 in non-league action in 2018-2019.

UP NEXT:
• The Crusaders return to action on Sunday, Dec. 29, when they play host to Regis 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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