Gamecenter: Holy Cross 69, American 64 (OT)
20 January, 2007| 1st | 2nd | OT | Final |
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| Holy Cross (12-6, 5-0 Patriot) | 29 | 29 | 11 | 69 |
| American (9-10, 1-4 Patriot) | 24 | 34 | 6 | 64 |
| Bender Arena – Washington, DC | Boxscore |
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| Postgame audio Holy Cross: Ralph Willard | Tim Clifford American: Jeff Jones | Andre Ingram | Arvydas Eitutavicius |
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In what’s become a common occurrence in recent years, Holy Cross downed American in Washington D.C. in a classic finish 69-64. Tim Clifford scored 19 for the Crusaders and Tim Clifford added 19 Keith Simmons added 14.
The first half was a back-and-forth battle, with 5 ties and 8 lead changes. Both squads found the ball quite slippery, as each team turned the ball over 11 times. Holy Cross used a 7-0 run late in the half to establish their 5-point lead at the half. The Crusaders dominated on the boards, outrebounding American 18-9 in the half and grabbing 7 offensive boards. The second half was more of the same. American got back-to-back threes from Derrick Mercer and Andre Ingram with 16:48 to go to pull within 33-32. Holy Cross responded with a quick 5-0 run, but the Eagles hit back with 5 unanswered points of their own. Holy Cross opened a 51-44 lead on a Clifford hook shot, but the Eagles cut back to 51-48 on shots by Arvydas Eitutavicius and Mercer. The Crusaders reclaimed a good-sized lead, but after Brayden Billbe blocked Torey Thomas, the Eagles ran down the court down 3, but Ingram missed a transition three that would have tied it. Instead, the Crusaders came down the court and scored on an Eric Meister lay-in to reclaim a 5-point lead with 4:20 left in the game. The game-high came from Eitutavicius, who scored 24 points off the bench, including 4 three-pointers. Ingram pitched in 14 points and Mercer had 11 for the Eagles. |
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| Keys to the Game | |
| Key sequence | With 1:23 to go in regulation, Clifford hit a jumper in the lane to push the Crusaders ahead 58-54. On the next possession, Eitutavicius tossed a pass that was intercepted by Pat Doherty. The Crusaders ran down the clock to 37 seconds before Thomas missed a jumper. Ingram rebounded and Thomas fouled him. Ingram hit both ends of the one-and-one. The Eagles quickly fouled Thomas, who missed the front end of a one-and-one. Eitutavicius was fouled by Thomas with 25 seconds left, and he hit both ends of the one-and-one. Holy Cross held for a final shot, but Doherty airballed a three-pointer out of bounds with 3.3 seconds left, leaving American time for a final shot. Eitutavicius missed a miracle three-pointer as time expired in regulation. |
| Key sign it was over | The game was tied 62-62, when Doherty hit a driving lay-in with 48 seconds to go in overtime. After Ingram missed a three-pointer, Clifford was fouled and hit 1 of 2 free throws, giving the Crusaders a 3-point lead with 23 seconds. Eitutavicius hit a lay-up, and Simmons was fouled with 14 seconds left. He hit both free throws. Eitutavicius slashed to the basket but missed a contested lay-up, and Holy Cross came down with the ball. Simmons hit two more free throws to ice the game. |
| Key performance | Clifford ran roughshod over the Eagles, with 19 points and 9 rebounds. He was a reliable presence all game when Holy Cross needed a basket. |
| Key statistic | Holy Cross outscored American in the paint 38-14. Their interior play more than made up for American’s 7 three-pointers. |
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| Notes | |
| – | The attendance of 4,775 was the largest ever for an American basketball game at Bender Arena. |
| – | Two years ago at Bender, these two teams went to overtime on Feb. 6. Holy Cross won 76-67. Overall Holy Cross is 6-2 at Bender since the Eagles joined the Patriot League in 2001-2002, including a victory in the 2002 Patriot League Tournament championship. |
| – | A strong group of Holy Cross partisans attended the game, concentrated in three different parts of Bender Arena. |
| – | Holy Cross goes to Colgate this Tuesday night, while American hosts Navy Wednesday. |
