Mid Massachusetts News

HOLY CROSS PLAYS HOST TO AMERICAN IN BATTLE OF PATRIOT LEAGUE UNBEATENS

The Holy Cross men's basketball team returns home this week to face American at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 5. The contest between the Crusaders and the Eagles will be shown live by the Patriot League on ESPN+.

Holy Cross enters the game with a perfect mark of 2-0 in the Patriot League and an overall record of 5-10. In their first two conference games of the season, the Crusaders have defeated Bucknell (60-58) and Navy (74-63). Holy Cross currently leads the Patriot League in three-point field goal percentage defense (32.2 percent), while standing third in both steals (7.3 steals per game) and blocked shots (2.8 blocks per game).

Senior forward Gerrale Gates has led the team by averaging 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocked shots per game, in addition to connecting on 51.0 percent of his field goal attempts. Junior guard Bo Montgomery has added 12.2 points, 3.8 boards and 2.7 assists per contest, while junior guard Joe Octave is putting up 10.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

American currently stands 10-3 overall and 2-0 in the Patriot League. The Eagles have downed Lafayette (60-47) and Loyola (71-55) in their first two conference games of the year. Junior  forward Matt Rogers has led the team by averaging 13.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, while making 65.3 percent of his shots from the floor. Junior forward Johnny O'Neil has put up 12.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per contest, with freshman guard Geoff Sprouse adding 10.4 points 2.8 boards and 2.4 assists per game.

Following the contest with the Eagles, Holy Cross will remain at home to face Loyola (Md.) on Sunday, Jan. 8, at 1:00 p.m. 

Original source can be found here