BOSTON - In a matchup featuring two of the top-four Patriot League preseason selections, the Boston University men's basketball team used a pair of double-doubles from seniors Justin Alston and Eric Fanning to defeat defending conference champion Holy Cross, 61-55, on Friday night at Case Gym. Alston was named the Turnpike Trophy game MVP after accumulating a career-high 15 rebounds with 13 points and two blocks in the PL opener for both squads.

THE RUNDOWN

Final Score: Boston University 61, Holy Cross 55
Records: BU (6-7, 1-0 PL), HC (6-8, 0-1 PL)
Venue: Case Gym "The Roof" - Boston, Mass.
Watch Replay: Patriot League Network
Postgame Comments: Coach Jones | Hankerson
BU Team Stats: 21-50 FG (.420), 7-22 3FG (.318), 12-20 FT (.600), 47 Rebs.
HC Team Stats: 18-57 FG (.316), 11-33 3FG (.333), 8-11 FT (.727), 27 Rebs.
BU Leaders: Alston (13p, 15r, 2b), Fanning (14p, 10r, 5a), Hankerson (10p, 3 3FGs, 2b)
HC Leaders: Champion (18p, 5r, 3s), Husek (14p, 4 3FGs, 4r), Charles (9p, 6a, 4r)

TURNING POINT

• Down 45-42 with 14:48 remaining, the Terriers went on an 11-0 run over the next 3:30 to grab the lead for good.
• The Crusaders pulled within three at 52 seconds on a converted 3-point play by Malachi Alexander, but the Terriers got a big offensive rebound following a missed layup and hit three straight free throws to help seal the victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Junior Cedric Hankerson came out on fire with three 3-pointers to give BU an early 11-6 lead.
• Matt Husek and Robert Champion responded with back-to-back treys, and Anthony Thompson added another at 11:13 to give Holy Cross as 21-12 lead.
• Trailing 32-26 with 2:54 left in the half, senior Eric Fanning hit back-to-back layups, and junior Nick Havener followed Hankerson's free throw with a fastbreak layup on an assist from sophomore Kyle Foreman for a 33-32 halftime lead.
• Champion started the second half with a 3-pointer to give HC the lead back, and Alexander's 3-point play at 14:48 gave the Crusaders a 45-42 advantage.
• Fanning hit a layup on the ensuing possession, and junior Will Goff later hit a 3-pointer to ignite the 11-0 spurt.
• After Alston's layup at 11:01 and 53-45 advantage, BU failed to hit a field goal the rest of the game but hit eight free throws down the stretch, including five in the last 70 seconds. 

GAME NOTES

• With the win over the Crusaders and an earlier women's basketball victory at Holy Cross, BU improved to 6-1 in the second annual Turnpike Trophy standings … The all-sports competition featuring the two schools was created in the summer of 2015. 
• BU had two double-doubles in the same game for the first time since an 86-53  home win over Kean on Dec. 28, 2015 (Nick Havener - 18p, 11r and Eric Johnson - 11p, 10a) ... It was the first time however against a Division I opponent since a 76-65 home win over Maine on Feb. 26, 2009 (John Holland - 20p, 10r and Jeff Pelage (10p, 12r).
• Alston had a career-high 15 rebounds with 13 points for his second-career double-double, while Fanning had a season-high 10 rebounds with a team-high 14 points and five assists for his fourth-career double-double.
• The Terriers won their second consecutive game against Holy Cross and improved to 5-2 in the series since joining the Patriot League in the summer of 2013.
• BU is now 6-1 at home after holding its third opponent this season below 33 percent shooting.
• Freshman Max Mahoney returned to action with three points and six rebounds after missing the previous seven games due to injury.

NEXT UP: LEHIGH

• BU will next host 2016 Patriot League runner-up and preseason favorite Lehigh on Monday, Jan. 2, at 2 p.m. 
• The Mountain Hawks fell in the tournament final to Holy Cross last March and are led by reigning two-time PL Player of the Year Tim Kempton, who is averaging an impressive 21.3 ppg and 10.5 rpg.
• The two teams split last season at home with John Papale ('16) landing at No. 1 in the SportsCenter top-10 following a miracle buzzer-beating jump shot and 75-73 win.