6 December, 2006
by Elliot Smilowitz
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1st |
2nd |
Final |
| Holy Cross (6-3) |
28 |
17 |
45 |
| Duke (8-1) |
22 |
35 |
57 |
| Cameron Indoor Stadium – Durham, NC |
Boxscore |
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In Holy Cross’s toughest test of the year, they did not come away with a win, but did earn national respect. The Crusaders led Duke for most of the game before dropping a 57-45 decision.
The teams played even early, with Duke staking a 19-16 lead on a Josh McRoberts jumper. Holy Cross went on a 10-1 run, with 4 points coming from Keith Simmons. The Crusaders led by 6 at halftime, but Duke went on an 8-2 run to tie the game at 30-30. Holy Cross scored 4 points on lay-ups by Tim Clifford and Alex Vander Baan, but Duke went on a 13-0 run to take command, and never let up the rest of the way.
Simmons led Holy Cross with 13 points, the only Crusader in double figures; he added 7 rebounds. Vander Baan added 6 points. McRoberts and DeMarcus Nelson scored 13 each to pace the Blue Devils.
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| Keys to the Game |
| Key sequence |
Holy Cross led 34-30, but Duke was clearly beginning to gain steam. McRoberts hit a lay-up, and after Lawrence Dixon missed a three, Nelson converted a pair of free throws. Simmons missed a three, and Clifford fouled Brian Zoubek. Zoubek hit the first free throw, and missed the second, but Duke rebounded the ball and Nelson hit a three-ball. Duke was off to the races, running off 13 straight points, as Holy Cross’s desperation attempts to stave off the Devils failed.
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| Key sign it was over |
The Crusaders trailed 12 with 2:59 left, but Ralph Willard didn’t try to foul Duke, and the Blue Devils ran off the clock repeatedly.
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| Key performance |
Holy Cross needed big performances from its two stars to compete with Duke. Simmons came through, but Torey Thomas went 1-for-7 from the floor for 6 points, and turned the ball over 9 times. Even with a big game the Crusaders may not have won, but without him they had no chance.
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| Key statistic |
The Crusaders shot 3-of-16 from the arc. They needed a big shooting night to stay with the more athletic Blue Devils, but no one stepped up.
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| Notes |
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Holy Cross committed 24 personal fouls, sending Duke to the line 27 times (they hit just 13 free throws). Clifford fouled out with 10 minutes remaining.
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After a 45.5 percent shooting first half, the Crusaders shot just 29.2 percent in the second half.
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The Crusaders got 11 bench points, all from the freshmen. Eric Meister and Andrew Keister had 2 baskets each, and Adam May hit a three-pointer.
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Duke outrebounded Holy Cross 34-24. However, the Crusaders held their own in the interior, scoring 24 paint points to Duke’s 22.
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The Crusaders now break for final exams for the next two weeks. Their next game is Dec. 19 at Providence. It will be their third game at a power conference team in a month.
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