Jan. 9, 2010

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EASTON, Pa. - Ryan Willen was one of four players in double figures who helped Lafayette start Patriot League play on a positive note. The sophomore scored a game-high 20 points as Lafayette took down conference preseason favorite Holy Cross, 84-74, Saturday afternoon at Kirby Sports Center.

Willen, who was coming off a 27-point night on Wednesday vs. Columbia, hit three shots from long range and grabbed seven rebounds. Junior Jared Mintz finished a rebound shy of a double-double, ending with 16 points while going 6-for-6 from the line for the Leopards who were tabbed for last in the preseason poll. Jim Mower chipped in with 14 points while Jeff Kari added 13, including three three-pointers and four assists.

Holy Cross (3-13, 0-1) led for the first 12 minutes of the game, holding a 16-15 advantage. The Crusaders' defense combined with Lafayette's (10-6, 1-0) cold shooting in the opening minutes (1-of-11 through the first four minutes) saw Lafayette trail for the majority of the half. Lafayette took a 22-19 lead with 4:48 left in the half on a Mower three. The Leopards led 33-28 at intermission.

In the second half, Lafayette tied the game at 43-43 at 14:42 on a Kari three-pointer and then broke open the game with a 17-3 run. Kari had eight points in the run while Mower and Willen each added three's. The spurt concluded with a dunk by senior Marek Koltun in traffic to give Lafayette a 57-46 advantage.

Lafayette led by as many as 13 points twice, off a Willen three (68-55) and again with 2:18 left on a Mower three (77-64). Holy Cross never moved the margin below eight in the final eight minutes of the game.

Holy Cross finished with three players in double figures: R.J. Evans (19), Devin Brown (18) and Mike Cavataio (15). Andrew Keister grabbed 13 rebounds for the Crusaders who out-rebounded Lafayette 42-36.

The Leopards, who shot 34 percent in the first half, picked up things in the second, shooting 59 percent and 46 percent for the game. Lafayette shot 53 percent from the arc and a season-best 87 percent from the line.

Lafayette takes to the road for its second conference game against Colgate on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Fans unable to attend Wednesday night's game in Hamilton, N.Y. can watch the game live on LSN All-Access.

NOTES:

• The Lafayette women beat Holy Cross 43-39 on Saturday. The last time both the Holy Cross men and women defeated Holy Cross on the same day was Feb. 15, 1998.
• Saturday's effort marked the fifth game this season that Lafayette placed four players in double figures.
• Lafayette improves to 7-1 at home.
• The Leopards are now 8-12 all-time in Patriot League openers.