WORCESTER, Mass. – The Lafayette College men's basketball team took a lead into the half Friday night at the Hart Center, but Holy Cross shot over 70% in the second half on its home floor to defeat the Leopards, 79-74.
 
Senior Tyrone Perry scored a team-high 18 points, matching a season high with five assists while junior Neal Quinn had 16 points and eight boards.
 
Holy Cross' Gerrale Gates matched his season-high with a game-high 27 points and 13 rebounds to lead all players.
 
After a 16-day break, Lafayette came out strong in the opening half and shot 55% in the game's first 20 minutes, including a 7-0 start to the night. The Crusaders battled back and tied the score at 15 with 12 minutes left.
 
The home team took a five-point lead with six minutes left before back-to-back Perry 3-pointers made it 28-26 in favor of the Maroon and White to help give Lafayette a four-point lead going into the half.
 
The Leopards got off to a strong start to the second half and took an 11-point lead at the 16-minute mark following sophomore Jon Brantley's 3-pointer to make it 49-38.
 
Holy Cross battled back and went on an 11-0 run to take a 65-61 lead with just under six minutes left in the game.
 
Lafayette would not go away easily with Quinn converting back-to-back layups in the final minute and Perry getting to the rim to get within three points with under 30 seconds left, but after missing three consecutive free throws, Holy Cross pulled it together and hit five in-a-row down the stretch to hang on.

Junior Leo O'Boyle and freshman CJ Fulton also go into double-figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively while O'Boyle had four rebounds and Fulton added four assists. 
 
It will be a quick turnaround for Lafayette, hosting Navy on Monday inside Kirby Sports Center for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
 
For the latest on the Lafayette College men's basketball program, follow the Leopards on Twitter @LafayetteMBB and Instagram @lafayettembb.