WORCESTER, Mass. – College of the Holy Cross' Max Green pulled up from inside the free-throw line wand made a jumper with 27 seconds left to give the Crusaders a one-point cushion, and Holy Cross held on for a 74-72 victory over Loyola University Maryland in the teams' Patriot League opener.
Loyola had two attempts to tie or take the lead after Green's basket, but a
Tyson Commander shot was blocked, and
Milos Ilic's three at the buzzer went off the rim.
Four Greyhounds scored in double figures, led by
Jordan Stiemke's 19 and
Braeden Speed's 15.
Jacob Theodosiou added 14 points, and Ilic finished two assists shy of a triple-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high eight assists.
Loyola (5-7 overall, 0-1 Patriot League) built a pair of 10-point leads in the second half, the first coming as the Greyhounds opened the half on a 7-0 run to lead 43-33 after a Theodosiou three at 18:14.
Four-plus minutes later, two Theodosiou free throws made it a 51-41 game in Loyola's favor, but this time Holy Cross (9-5, 1-0) scored the next eight points, and it was 51-49 following a Jaiden Feroah three.
Speed momentarily stopped the run with a basket, but the Crusaders came back to go up moments later.
The Holy Cross lead never grew to more than three, and after 15 seconds after two Green free throws with 4:15 to play, Ilic converted a traditional 3-point play to tie the game. Speed then beat the shot-clock buzzer with a corner three at 3:04, and Loyola was up 72-69.
The game was scoreless for almost two minutes before Caleb Kenny scored in the paint for Holy Cross to bring the Crusaders within a point at 1:11. Green then made his pull-up jumper to take the lead, and Joe Nugent hit 1 of 2 at the free-throw line with 10 seconds left to provide the final margin.
Loyola had a 37-30 advantage on the glass behind Ilic's 12 and seven each from Stiemke and Theodosiou.
The Greyhounds will play their Patriot League home opener on Sunday, January 5, with a 1 o'clock game against Lehigh University.
