Lehigh defeats Holy Cross 66-58
Lehigh Tops Holy Cross in Conference Showdown
The Mountain Hawks proved too much for the Crusaders at Stabler Arena on Thursday night, taking down Holy Cross 66-58 in a crucial conference matchup.
Lehigh's home crowd was electric from the opening tip-off, and their team's performance reflected that. The Mountain Hawks came out strong, leading 33-30 at halftime behind a stifling defensive effort and balanced offense. From there, they maintained control of the game, stretching their lead to as many as 11 points in the second half.
Holy Cross struggled to find its rhythm on the road, shooting just 44% from the field for the game. The Crusaders' usually reliable three-point shot was particularly cold, going 3-13 from beyond the arc.
Despite the deficit, Holy Cross remained competitive well into the fourth quarter. However, Lehigh's defense proved too much to overcome, and the Mountain Hawks were able to seal the win with a few key possessions.
Top Performers:
Lehigh's senior guard, [Name], led the way for the Mountain Hawks, scoring 15 points on 6-12 shooting from the field. He also dished out four assists and stole the show with a thrilling steal in transition that sparked a fast break.
Holy Cross's sophomore forward, [Name], was the Crusaders' top scorer with 18 points on 7-13 shooting. However, his team's inability to find consistent scoring outside of him proved costly.
Game Stats:
Lehigh (HOME) Game Stats:
* Field Goals: 26/53 (49.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 20/38 (52.6%)
* 3-Point FG: 6/15 (40.0%)
* Free Throws: 8/9 (89.0%)
Holy Cross (AWAY) Game Stats:
* Field Goals: 24/55 (44.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 21/42 (50.0%)
* 3-Point FG: 3/13 (23.0%)
* Free Throws: 7/10 (70.0%)
Advanced Statistics:
Lehigh's advanced statistics were impressive, with a true shooting percentage of 57.9% and an effective field goal percentage of 54.7%. The Mountain Hawks also dominated the glass, grabbing 32 rebounds - including six on the offensive end.
Holy Cross struggled to find its footing in terms of pace, but still managed to hold their own with a turnover ratio of 14.3% against Lehigh's 18.8%.
The win improves Lehigh's standing within the conference standings, and sets up an intriguing matchup for next week's game against [insert opponent].