PROVIDENCE – Sophomore guard Tyler Boston scored a career and game-high 25 points as the Holy Cross men's basketball team opened up the 2025-26 season with an 89-79 loss to nonconference opponent Providence Monday evening in the Amica Mutual Pavilion.

Crusader (0-1) junior guard DeAndre Williams made a clutch steal at mid-court with just about a minute to play. Boston got the ball and then found Williams waiting for three making it a two possession game, 83-77 with 59 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, the Friars (1-0) got an and1 to essentially ice the game.

Boston was 6-for-13 (46.2 percent) from the field and 10-of-11 (90.9 percent) at the line in the personal-best effort. He was joined in double figures by freshman forward Aiden Disu (16 points), junior guard Gabe Warren (13), Williams (11) and junior guard forward Joe Nugent (10).

Providence was led by Stefan Vaaks who dropped 19 points and was a perfect 6-of-6 at the line.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Boston found a cutting Nugent for two to tie the game, 2-2 early. Boston gave the Crusaders their first lead 8-6 via a mid-range setback jumper with 15:19 left. Out of the media timeout, Providence scored seven straight points canning a triple to take a 13-8 advantage at the 11:22 mark. Disu broke a long Crusader scoring drought driving the lane for a two handed jam, his first collegiate points making it 15-10 halfway through the stanza.
• Another Disu dunk kept the game at two possessions, 25-19. Back-to-back Friar triples upped the score to 33-19 with under five minutes to go in the first half. Their lead grew to 17, 44-27 following two free throw conversions.
• Holy Cross scored nine straight points via three-balls from Warren, Nugent and sophomore guard Aidan Richard to trim the deficit to 10, 46-36 with 17:44 left in the game. Boston drained a three making it a nine point game 48-39. A 13-2 PC run opened up a 20 point edge, 69-49 with exactly 10 minutes to play.
• Boston drove and dished to a waiting Williams in the left corner for three bringing the margin to 13, 73-60. Disu followed with a turnaround jumper in the paint pulling his team within 11, 72-62 with 5:11 to play. Boston led the charge in transition and found Nugent on the wing putting the Crusader down eight, 78-70 with 3:51 left. Down 13 with 2:18 left, Holy Cross a final run, but the Friars fended off Holy Cross.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Boston also recorded a game-best six assists in the game.
• Richard established a new career-high with 10 rebounds.
• The Crusaders outscored the Friars 52-to-45 over the final 20 minutes.
• Holy Cross was 0-for-11 (0.0 percent) from three in the first half and 11-of-22 (50.0 percent) in the second half.
• Providence held the edge in points in the paint (44-to-24) and bench scoring (44-to-11).

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross hits the road to take on no. 8 nationally-ranked BYU on Saturday, Nov. 8.
• Tip-off is slated for 9 p.m. EST.
• Season tickets for Holy Cross men's basketball are on sale through the Holy Cross Ticket Office.

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