Mid Massachusetts News

MEN’S BASKETBALL FALLS AT LEHIGH

 Senior forward Gerrale Gates posted 24 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots, but the Holy Cross men's basketball team was defeated by Lehigh 76-58 at Stabler Arena. The Crusaders fall to 6-12 overall and 3-2 in the Patriot League, while the Mountain Hawks improve to 8-8 on the year and 3-2 in the conference.

Holy Cross made just 42.6 percent of its field goal attempts and 33.3 percent of its three-pointers on the night, while committing 17 turnovers. Lehigh was able to connect on 49.2 percent of its shots from the floor and 50.0 percent of its attempts from beyond the three-point line, in addition to holding a 34-28 rebounding advantage.

The Crusaders opened the game by jumping out to a 17-12 lead after the first 11 minutes of action, with Gates hitting his first seven shots from the field. Holy Cross was still up by five (19-14), when the Mountain Hawks went on a 24-2 run to take a 17-point lead. Lehigh would eventually take a 14-point advantage (38-24) into the locker room.

The Mountain Hawks were back up by 15 (47-32) early in the second half, before the Crusaders used a 16-4 spurt to make it a three-point game (51-48) with 10:43 left to play. Freshman guard Will Batchelder scored 12 points during that run. Lehigh had built its lead back up to seven points (58-51) with eight minutes remaining, when Holy Cross went cold and the Mountain Hawks put the game away with a 15-2 run. 

Batchelder finished the game with 15 points and three assists. Tyler Whitney-Sidney led Lehigh with 21 points, six rebounds and three assists. 

The Crusaders return to action on Saturday, Jan. 14, with a 1:00 p.m. game at Lafayette. 

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