Holy Cross comeback beats American, 70-64, takes over 6th

Feb 22, 2018, 02:44 am

WORCESTER, Mass. -- Jacob Grandison scored 11 of his team-high 16 points in the second half as Holy Cross erased a seven-point halftime deficit to post a 70-64 victory over American in the Crusaders' final home game of the regular season Wednesday night.

Holy Cross (11-17, 8-9 Patriot League), which has won six of its last night games, came into the game tied with Lafayette for sixth league standings, but the Leopards lost at Boston University to fall into seventh place. The Crusaders can still catch week the Terriers for fifth place with a win over Colgate Saturday and a BU loss to Army.

Larry Motuzis got the Eagles within two points, 55-53 with 3:42 left in the game, and again after Grandison answered by knocking down a 3-pointer of his own to make it 58-56. Jehyve Floyd dunked to give Holy Cross a two-possession advantage and Austin Butler hit two free throws to make it 62-56 with 1:34 remaining. Grandison made four straight free throws and Patrick Benzan hit three of four in the final minute to put the win on ice.

Butler finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds for Holy Cross and Floyd added 14 points, grabbed six boards and dished four assists.

Motuzis made 6 of 10 from beyond the arc and led American (6-22, 3-14) with 21 points. Sa'eed Nelson and Cheikh Diallo each added 11 points.