Feb. 9, 2008

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) -Tim Clifford scored 13 points as Holy Cross went on a 21-6 run in the second half for a 77-57 win over Lafayette on Saturday.

Kyle Cruze added 11 points and the Crusaders (12-10, 3-6 Patriot League) got an unexpected boost off the bench from reserve center Greg McCarthy, who went 5-for-5 from the field and scored eight of his 10 points in the decisive run.

Bilal Abdullah scored 13 points to lead Lafayette (14-9, 5-3).

Lafayette led 29-25 at halftime then extended the lead to 34-25 with 18:33 left on Michael Gruner's 3-pointer.

Then McCarthy and Pat Doherty took over. Doherty hit three free throws to tie the game at 40-40, before McCarthy hit three consecutive field goals as the Crusaders took a 46-40 lead.

Abdullah kept Lafayette close, but Cruze hit a 3 and McCarthy added another field goal as the Crusaders built the lead to 57-46. Doherty also had four assists and a steal in the rally.