WORCESTER, Mass. – Sophomore Jonas Harper won a scramble for the ball following the tip-off and quickly found senior Max Mahoney under the hoop for an easy layup to give the Boston University men's basketball team the lead for good, as the Terriers rolled to a 79-64 victory at Holy Cross Saturday afternoon on NESN.

With the help of a season-tying 18 assists and 44-29 advantage in rebounds, BU (11-10, 5-3 PL) won their fourth straight matchup at the Hart Center against the Crusaders (3-18, 2-6 PL). The Terriers also extended their lead in the Turnpike Trophy all-sports competition to 4-2 with the win.

Mahoney claimed both Turnpike Trophy MVP honors and the Martin J. O'Malley Award (Holy Cross' Winter Homecoming game MVP) after posting 18 points, six assists, six rebounds and two blocks. One of three other Terriers to reach double figures in points, sophomore Walter Whyte collected his fourth career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Javante McCoy (14 pts.) dished out six assists, and sophomore Fletcher Tynen came off the bench to contribute 12 points.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• McCoy followed up on Mahoney's layup with the first of BU's six 3-pointers for early 5-0 advantage.
• Leading by one (20-19), junior Andrew Petcash struck from behind the arc at 7:57 to spark a 12-3 run capped by freshman Ethan Brittain-Watts' trey at 4:14.
• The Terriers scored the final nine points of the half with Mahoney hitting three layups and a bonus free throw to enter the locker room leading, 43-27.
• After Mahoney fed junior Sukhmail Mathon for a layup and 47-31 lead at 18:05, the Crusaders went on a 14-0 run over the next four minutes with Austin Butler contributing two of HC's four bombs.
• Mahoney provided a spark for the Terriers with an emphatic dunk on the putback and followed up with a layup and block that led to Whyte's fastbreak layup.
• Petcash scored again in 3-point territory at 7:40 to pull ahead, 63-49.
• The Crusaders mounted another rally and cut their deficit to six (69-63) at 3:06 but would not get any closer, as the Terriers scored eight straight points over the next two minutes to clinch the victory.

GAME NOTES

• BU improved to 10-3 against Holy Cross since joining the Patriot League in the summer of 2013.
• The Terriers have now had a double-double in three straight games and seven total for the season by four men.
• After being held below 40 percent shooting for two consecutive games, BU finished 31-of-62 (.500) while holding the Crusaders to 25-of-61 (.410).
• Five-time PL Rookie of the Week Joel Pridgen went 9-of-19 en route to 20 points while adding eight rebounds and three assists.
• Butler (13 pts.) and Matt Faw (12 pts.) combined for five of HC's nine 3-pointers.

NEXT UP: LOYOLA MARYLAND

• The Terriers will return home and host the Greyhounds on Wednesday (Jan. 29) at 7 p.m.
• BU won the first meeting in Baltimore, 85-53, back on Jan. 10.
• The Terriers shot 60.7 FG% and held the Greyhounds to 39.7 FG%.
• BU went 2-0 at home last season with a 71-63 victory over Loyola in the PL First Round.