Arlington Heights, IL. The Holy Cross College men’s basketball team took on the Eagles of Robert Morris University on the road this evening in Illinois. The Saints proved they were leading the nation in defensive scoring allowed, as they defeated the Eagles 69-66. The win wraps up the regular season sweep over the Eagles with the first win, a 73-50 decision, back on November 29. Men’s basketball improves to 16-11 overall, and 10-7 in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The Saints found themselves in a 4-0 deficit to start the game, but were able to battle back and tie the game 7-7 after a Jordan Gaines jumper with 15 minutes remaining in the half. The Eagles would make a run and go up 34-25, with five minutes to play, but a layup by Travon Brackett would cut the lead to one with one minute remaining. The Saints trailed 36-33 heading into halftime.
Costly turnovers to start the second half hurt the Saints, as RMU would take a 58-47 lead with ten minutes to play. Holy Cross would go on a 19-8 run to tie the game 66-66 with 1:38 remaining. Junior Nate Miller would score the games last three points, going 3/4 from the free-throw line down the stretch, to give the Saints the 69-66 victory.
Senior Travon Brackett recorded a double-double with scoring 15 points and pulling down a team-high 12 rebounds. Ja’Mare Washington added 16 points while shooting 8/11 from the field, and Robby Jimenez scored 15 points, while draining five threes. The Saints shot 47% from the field and 35% from behind the arc.
Men’s basketball travels back to Illinois this Saturday when they face the University of Saint Francis in a 4:00pm tipoff.
