WASHINGTON, D.C. – Four players scored in double-figures including sophomore guard
Tyler Boston as the Holy Cross men's basketball team knocked off 2025 Patriot League Tournament champion American 84-73 Saturday afternoon in Bender Arena.
The Crusaders (7-10, 2-2 PL) turned a one point, 42-41 deficit into a 16 point, 67-51 lead on the strength of a 26-9 run over 8:32 in the second half. Holy Cross was 10-for-15 (66.7 percent) from the field during the scoring binge with junior guard/forward
Joe Nugent scoring 10 of the 26 Holy Cross markers.
Boston dropped a team-best 19 points with three rebounds and three assists. Junior guard/forward
Gabe Warren filled the box score with 17 points, a game-high eight rebounds with an assist and a block shooting 87.5 percent (7-for-8) from the floor. Nugent (12 points) and junior guard
DeAndre Williams (12 points) joined their teammates in double-digits.
For American (9-8, 2-2 PL) Madden Collins scored a game-best 26 points with eight rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Sophomore forward Aidan Richard drilled a corner three for the opening points of the game. American produced six straight points to double up the margin 6-3 just 3:24 into the contest. Junior forward Declan Ryan used a baby hook and got his hands into the passing lane which resulted in a Warren hoop and harm to put the Crusaders back ahead 8-6 just after under 16 media timeout. American went on an 11-4 burst to go ahead 17-12 with 12:08 left in the half.
- Warren tapped home a rebound for two keeping the Crusaders within three, 19-16 at the 9:46 mark. Sophomore forward Chuck Hare banked in a post layup on the right block keeping Holy Cross down one score, 27-23. Richard canned a three from the left wing making the margin one, 27-26 as the Eagles took a timeout. Boston hit from the left elbow which put the Crusaders back in the lead at 32-31 with 3:17 left until halftime. Williams connected on a turnaround jumper in the lane as Holy Cross led 38-37 at the intermission.
- Consecutive Boston jumpers pushed Holy Cross in the lead at 45-42 at the 17:24 mark. Williams hit on another mid-range jumper expanding the lead to 47-42 at the first media timeout of the second stanza. After the media, Nugent went to the line and hit two technical freebies to lead 49-42. The Holy Cross run increased with Nugent hitting a three, getting an and1, Warren contributed with a hoop and harm, Ryan and Williams also scored while Nugent had a steal and breakaway slam and Boston made a jumper for the 67-51 advantage.
- The Eagles went on a 22-11 run to come within two possessions, 78-73 with 59 seconds left to play. Holy Cross hit free throws late and Warren stole the rock and went unimpeded to the rack for a two handed jam which iced the game.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Holy Cross had 12 or fewer turnovers for the eighth straight game.
- The Crusaders scored a season-high 84 points in the win, shot a season-best 54.9 percent (2-for-51) from the field and knocked down a campaign-high 24 free throws in the contest.
- Holy Cross held American to an 8.3 percent (2-for-24) performance from three-point land.
UP NEXT:
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