ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Freshman forward
Aiden Disu scored a team-high 18 points, but the Holy Cross men's basketball team fell to Patriot League opponent Navy 85-68 Wednesday evening in Alumni Hall.
Disu was 6-for-10 (60.0 percent) from the field and 6-for-7 (85.7 percent) at the line with two rebounds and two assists for the Crusaders (8-12, 3-4 PL). 16 of his 18 points came in the second half. Junior guard
DeAndre Williams added a season-high 16 points and five boards. Classmate
Joe Nugent added 14 points as well.
Aidan Kehoe paced Navy (14-6, 6-1 PL) with a career-high 29 points going 10-for-12 (83.3 percent) from the hardwood.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Holy Cross scored the opening five points of the game when Disu drilled a mid-range jumper and Nugent knocked down a transition triple. Their edge expanded to 7-1 following junior guard/forward Gabe Warren's step-back post jumper. The hosts responded on a 9-2 burst to take their first lead, 10-9 following a post score. Navy took a 17-13 advantage after split free throws, however Warren answered right back snapping the Crusader field goal drought driving through traffic for two making it 17-15 Midshipmen.
- Two Navy free throws increased their lead to eight, 23-15 with 8:30 left in the half. Junior forward Declan Ryan continued his strong first half knocking down a right wing three-ball putting Holy Cross behind four, 25-21. The Midshipmen connected on a three-pointer to open up a 10, point 31-21 edge with just under 5:30 left in the half. Warren's euro step through on a fast break brought Holy Cross within six, 35-29 at the 2:54 mark. Navy regained a double-digit lead, but Williams hit a buzzer three to end the half making it 42-34 Midshipmen.
- A Midshipmen hoop and harm regained the 11 point, 51-40 lead with 14:09 to play. Nugent sank a catch and shoot three-ball on the wing with 12:26 left making it 55-46. On the next Crusader possession, Williams hit a three with the shot clock winding down putting his team down six, 55-49 with 11:28 remaining.
- Disu drove the baseline and kicked to a cutting junior forward Will Aljancic pulling the Crusaders within four, 59-55. Clinging to a four point lead, Navy improved their advantage back to seven, 69-62 following a three-pointer with 5:55 left. Trailing by 10, Williams sliced through the paint for the and1 dropping the Holy Cross deficit to seven, 73-66. Navy countered with back-to-back threes on their next two possessions to go back ahead double-digits late.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Navy's Kehoe, a career 36.7 percent free throw shooter coming into the contest set a career-high with nine free throw conversions going 9-for-12 (75.0 percent) in the game.
- Warren had a team-high with a career-best matching eight rebounds.
- Ryan made his first collegiate start in the contest and finished with eight points.
UP NEXT:
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