Men’s Basketball: BU back in the win column following an impressive win at Holy Cross

By Kaan Oguz

Boston University Terriers Men’s Basketball (9–15, 4–7 PL) defeated the Holy Cross Crusaders (8–16, 3–8 PL) 72–64 on the road Monday night, leading for most of the contest and pulling away late behind perimeter shooting and controlled half-court offense.

Boston University established the tone early, opening on a 7–0 run with efficient interior scoring and quickly forcing Holy Cross to play from behind. The Terriers generated clean looks through ball movement and spacing, while their defensive rebounding prevented the Crusaders from creating second-chance opportunities. Holy Cross answered with perimeter shooting to stay within reach, but Boston University maintained its rhythm and responded to each push.

Momentum briefly shifted midway through the half when the Crusaders took a one-point lead following consecutive interior finishes. The Terriers immediately countered behind Azmar Abdullah’s shooting and a strong stretch from Donte Tisinger Jr., whose scoring off the bench stabilized the offense and helped Boston University regain control. From that point forward, the Terriers dictated the tempo, operating comfortably in the half court while limiting transition chances.

The closing minutes of the half reflected the game’s developing pattern—Holy Cross trimmed the deficit with timely jumpers, but Boston University consistently found answers. Tyler Boston knocked down a late three-pointer to bring the Crusaders within a single possession, yet Ben Defty converted at the free-throw line to preserve a 32–29 Terrier lead entering the break.

Holy Cross opened the second half with urgency, scoring on back-to-back possessions to briefly move in front and apply pressure. The teams traded baskets over the next several minutes in a tightly contested stretch that featured multiple lead changes. Michael McNair halted the Crusaders’ surge with a three-pointer, and Boston University continued to respond immediately whenever Holy Cross threatened to separate.

The game tightened again near the middle of the half when the Crusaders reclaimed a narrow advantage. McNair answered from beyond the arc once more, and Chance Gladden followed with a three-pointer that restored momentum. Boston University’s perimeter efficiency became the defining factor during this stretch, preventing Holy Cross from building any sustained run.

After Holy Cross edged ahead by one possession, Abdullah delivered the game’s turning point. The forward connected on back-to-back three-point jumpers in a short span, flipping a one-point deficit into a multi-possession Terrier lead and energizing the offense. Moments later, McNair added another three-pointer to extend the margin, marking Boston University’s largest lead of the half and forcing the Crusaders into a catch-up position.

From there, the Terriers shifted toward interior execution to manage the clock. Defty finished through contact and converted key baskets inside, while the defense forced difficult looks on the other end. With under three minutes remaining, Defty scored on a layup to push the lead to eight, giving Boston University its clearest control of the night.

Holy Cross attempted a final push with quick interior scores, but the Terriers answered with one of the game’s defining sequences. Abdullah found Defty cutting to the rim for a dunk that restored the multi-possession cushion and effectively sealed the outcome. Boston University executed calmly down the stretch, converting free throws and securing defensive rebounds to close out the victory.

McNair led the Terriers with 18 points, delivering several momentum-shifting three-pointers that helped Boston University regain control during critical moments. Defty followed with 17 points and nine rebounds, anchoring the paint while providing efficient scoring late. Abdullah added 14 points and knocked down four three-pointers, including the decisive back-to-back makes that changed the trajectory of the second half. Gladden contributed 14 points and facilitated the offense throughout key stretches, while Tisinger Jr. supplied an important spark off the bench.

Holy Cross was paced by DeAndre Williams’ 20 points, with Tyler Boston adding 15, but the Crusaders struggled to generate consistent stops as Boston University shot efficiently from the field and from three-point range.

The win moves the Terriers to 7th seed and 4–7 in Patriot League play as they continue to search for momentum entering the final stretch of conference competition.