BOSTON – Seeking its fourth sweep in Patriot League action, the Boston University men's basketball team will end the regular season at Holy Cross on Saturday with tip-off slated for 2 p.m.
The Terriers are currently tied-for-second in the conference standings at 11-6 and own the tiebreaker over Lehigh (11-6 PL). However, depending on Lehigh and Navy's (10-7 PL) results, BU could fall as low as fourth with a loss.
TERRIER TIDBITS
- BU is 5-3 on the road in the Patriot League this season and had its three-game road win streak snapped on Wednesday at Army, 73-62.
- In the first meeting against Holy Cross, seniors Eric Fanning and Justin Alston combined for 27 points and 25 rebounds, as the Terriers recorded two double-doubles against a Division I opponent for the first time since a win over Maine in 2008-09.
- Fanning leads the Terriers with 14.9 ppg and 6.1 rpg, while Alston is second at 11.8 ppg and 6.0 rpg, respectively.
- BU ranks 16th nationally in steals at 8.4 spg and is averaging 9.4 spg in conference play ... Junior Cedric Hankerson (9.6 ppg) ranks 29th at 2.04 spg, while sophomore Kyle Foreman (6.7 ppg, 4.6 apg) is 33rd at 2.00 spg.
- Junior Nick Havener (5.3 ppg) ranks third in rebounding at 5.5 rpg, while freshman Max Mahoney (5.5 ppg) is fourth at 3.6 rpg.
- Hankerson leads the Terriers with 2.3 made 3-pointers per game, just ahead of freshman Tyler Scanlon's (7.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg) average of 1.8 made treys.
- The Terriers are shooting 35.4 percent from behind the arc but have had a tougher time on the road shooting just 32.1 percent compared to opponents' 37.5 percent.
SCOUTING HOLY CROSS
- Coming off Wednesday's 63-62 win over Loyola Maryland, the Crusaders have been far superior at home with a 9-4 mark compared to a 6-11 road record.
- HC is riding a two-game win streak with wins over the Greyhounds and American ... The Crusaders own strong home wins over Lehigh, Quinnipiac and Navy.
- Last year despite being the No. 9 seed, HC captured the Patriot League tournament crown and automatic NCAA berth by collecting road wins at No. 8 Loyola, No. 1 Bucknell, No. 4 Army and finally No. 2 Lehigh.
- 6-foot-7 forward Malachi Alexander averages a team-high 13.5 ppg and 5.1 rpg with 6-foot-6 guard Robert Champion close behind at 13.0 ppg and 3.4 rpg, respectively ... 6-foot-6 forward Karl Charles is one of five Crusaders with at least 43 steals in 30 contests and is averaging 9.6 ppg, 3.7 apg and 3.3 rpg.
- The Crusaders rank 12th nationally and lead the PL in scoring defense at 62.3 ppg and rank sixth in the PL in field goal percentage defense with opponents shooting 45.5 percent.
- HC ranks first in the PL in steals and seventh nationally at 9.4 spg and third nationally turnover margin (+5.0) ... The Crusaders are dead last in rebounding margin at -8.5.
SERIES HISTORY
- Holy Cross leads the all-time series, 53-17, in a rivalry that dates back to 1902-03.
- Since joining the Patriot League, however, BU is 5-2 against the Crusaders with a 2-1 mark on the road.
- In the previous meeting at BU on Dec. 30, 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 Alexander, but the Terriers got a big offensive rebound following a missed layup and hit three straight free throws to help seal the victory ... Alston was named Turnpike Trophy MVP with 13 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.
- In the last meeting at the Hart Center, BU led at the half, 40-35, but the Crusaders scored 45 in the second half to pull out an 80-64 home win with Charles contributing 15 points, five assists, two blocks and a steal ... Named Turnpike Trophy MVP, Alexander tallied 17 points on a near-perfect 7-of-8 shooting.
- Following three years as a conference member, the Terriers have yet to meet HC in the Patriot League tournament ... The last time the two schools faced off in a conference tourney, the Rick Pitino-led BU squad claimed the 1983 ECAC North title against the Crusaders to reach the NCAAs for the first time since 1959.
