Notre Dame, Ind. — It was a special night inside McKenna Arena as Holy Cross hosted its annual Santa and the Saints Game, combining holiday spirit, community support, and a strong performance on the court. The Saints defeated IU Kokomo 81–74, improving to 5–5 on the season and 3–2 in conference play.
The evening also marked a successful Toys for Tots toy drive!. Thanks to the generosity of students, families, and fans, Holy Cross raised nearly $400 and completely filled 5 Toys for Tots collection bins. The Saints will use the donated funds to purchase even more toys before delivering them on Saturday.
On the court, Holy Cross set the tone early with a dominant 23-point first quarter and never looked back. Balanced scoring and efficient shooting led the way, highlighted by:
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Kaiden Hanley with a team-high 21 points, including a perfect 7–8 from the free-throw line.
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Sincere Coleman-Francis adding 12 points and 5 rebounds.
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Allie Caldwell contributing an all-around performance with 12 points.
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A strong boost from the bench, combining for 20 points to keep momentum rolling throughout the night.
Holy Cross shot an impressive 54.7% from the field and 9-for-16 from beyond the arc (56.3%), keeping Kokomo at arm’s length despite the Cougars’ late push.
The Saints now shift focus to their upcoming contest on the road against Cleary (MI) on Saturday December 9th. Tipoff is set for 5:30PM! Tonight, the Saints walked away with more than a win—they made a meaningful impact in the local community at Christmas time.