WORCESTER, Mass. – Junior forward Caleb Kenney hit four key free throws in the final 30 seconds, as the Holy Cross men's basketball team came from behind to defeat American 58-56 at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex. The Crusaders improve to 8-17 overall and 5-7 in the Patriot League, while the Eagles fall to 13-12 on the season and 7-5 in the conference.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• American led by as many as 12 points in the first half, before eventually taking a 32-26 advantage into the locker room.
• The Eagles held onto the lead early in the second half, and were up by 13 (50-37) with 10 minutes left to play.
• Holy Cross scored the next six points to cut into the deficit, and was later down by seven (54-47) with 4:33 remaining.
• Senior guard Bo Montgomery would hit a key three-pointer at the 3:45 mark to make it a two-point game (54-52), then added a driving layup with 1:05 to go to once again cut the deficit to two (56-54).
• With 26.2 seconds on the clock, Kenney grabbed a defensive rebounds and was intentionally fouled to prevent a breakaway.
• After Kenney hit both free throws to tie the score, the Crusaders retained possession and Kenney was fouled while attempting a layup with 2.7 seconds to go.
• Kenney once again drained both foul shots, and a desperation heave by the Eagles was off the mark at the buzzer as Holy Cross pulled out the win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
• The Crusaders made only 41.5 percent of their field goal attempts on the day, but committed just eight turnovers and held a 33-29 rebounding advantage.
• American made 43.8 percent of its shots from the floor and 43.8 percent of its three-pointers.
• Montgomery finished the game with 13 points, five rebounds and four assists, while freshman guard A.J. Wills added 12 points and three boards.
• Matt Rogers led the Eagles with 18 points.

MARTIN J. O'MALLEY AWARD:
• Following the contest, Kenney received the Martin J. O'Malley Award as the most outstanding player in Holy Cross' Winter Homecoming game. 
• The award is named after Martin J. O'Malley, a 1926 Holy Cross graduate who played both basketball and football for the Crusaders.
• O'Malley also spent a number of years coaching basketball at St. John's Prep and North High School in Worcester, and was inducted into the Massachusetts State Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1984.

UP NEXT:
• Holy Cross returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 14, when it travels to Colgate for a 7 p.m. game.

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