BOSTON – The Holy Cross men's basketball team wrapped up nonconference action with an 81-53 loss to Harvard Saturday afternoon in Lavietes Pavillion.
 
Junior guard/forward Gabe Warren scored a team-high 16 points with four rebounds, a contest-best three steals and an assist for the Crusaders (5-8). The Crimson (6-6) had four players in double figures including Austin Hunt who dropped a game-high 19 points on 8-for-9 (88.9 percent) shooting in 26 minutes off the bench.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Warren connected on a one handed floater as the shot clock ticked down for the opening points of the contest. From there the Crimson went on a 21-2 run with 16 straight points getting a trio of hoop and harms for the 21-4 edge with 12:15 left in the half. Freshman guard/forward Jude Haigh broke a six and a half minute scoreless stretch canning a three from the left wing.
• Haigh's three was the start of an 8-2 Crusader spurt which included a junior guard/forward Joe Nugent and1 as the deficit dropped to 23-12. Two freebies from Warren brought the Crusaders within 10, 29-19. The Crimson then strung together 11 straight points before sophomore guard Tyler Boston knocked down a corner three as Holy Cross was down 40-22. Harvard led 41-24 at the intermission.
• The Crusaders tallied the first six points of the second half to come within 11, 41-30 with 17:51 to play. Harvard countered with nine in a row to expand the lead to 20, 50-30 almost two minutes later.
• Harvard's lead increased to 28 with 1:55 left.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Harvard started the game 8-for-8 from the field before the first miss when senior guard Jaden Kirkwood blocked a shot attempt.
• Teams were hot from field (57.4, 62-for-108) and from deep (55.3 percent, 21-for-38) in two games against the Crusaders this week.
• Holy Cross outscored Harvard (10-to-8) off turnovers.

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross begins Patriot League play on New Years Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 31 against Bucknell (3-9) at 2 p.m.
• Alumni can register for the 125th Anniversary of Holy Cross men's basketball celebration on Winter Homecoming Weekend before Feb. 5.
• Single-game tickets for Holy Cross men's basketball are on sale through the Holy Cross Ticket Office.

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS:
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