WORCESTER, Mass. – Facing Holy Cross for the second time in four games, the Boston University men's basketball team dropped a 72-52 decision Saturday afternoon at the Hart Center.

The Terriers (12-13, 6-6 PL) rallied to cut a 17-point deficit to four at 12:11 in the second half, but the Crusaders (12-13, 4-8 PL) used a 16-3 run over nearly eight minutes of action to pull away. Holy Cross finished the contest shooting 55.3 percent from the field and holding BU to 35.1 percent to avenge an earlier 69-59 loss at Case Gym for the series split.
 
Freshman Azmar Abdullah (14 pts.) and sophomore Michael McNair (13 pts.) combined for five 3-pointers to lead the Terriers in points. Junior Nico Nobili hauled in a game-high seven rebounds, as BU won the battle at the boards for the second time, 32-27.

Holy Cross had three men score in double figures with Max Green posting 18 points alongside five assists. DeNadre Williams recorded 16 points and four assists, while Caleb Kenny earned 12 points, two blocks and two steals.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• McNair ignited BU's offense with a pair of three-pointers, then Roy's underhanded layup on a left lane drive put BU ahead, 8-7, four minutes into the game.
• Holy Cross regained the lead on a 7-0 run across a 3:42 span to go up 15-8 before Abdullah stuck a left-elbow jumper at the 12:13 mark of the first half.
• Green converted a transition layup following a BU turnover to give the Crusaders their largest lead at the time, 21-12, with 8:49 on the clock.
• A 16-3 Crusader run over nearly seven minutes expanded the gap to 31-14 following Feroah's layup with 5:05 until halftime.
• An 11-2 Terrier run for over four minutes, featuring three points from freshman Ben Defty and triples from both Abdullah and McNair, brought BU within 33-25 with 1:21 remaining in the first.
• Trailing 35-27 to open the second half, senior Malcolm Chimezie sank a contested hook shot before the Crusaders replenished their double-digit lead with six straight points for a 41-29 edge.
• BU's 10-2 burst pulled the visitors within four (45-41), as junior Otto Landrum canned a jumper from the foul line and Abdullah nailed his second 3-pointer with 12:11 on the clock.
• Both sides slowed down offensively past the midpoint of the second half, but Green found Aidan Richard for a left wing 3-pointer with 5:30 remaining in regulation to grab a commanding 60-44 advantage.

GAME NOTES

• McNair recorded his 12th game this season with three or more 3-pointers.
• Abdullah notched his fifth game in double figures this year and his third such performance in a Patriot League game.
• Nobili has now earned seven rebounds in three of the last four contests.
• BU has now dropped three straight at the Hart Center, last winning in 2022.

UP NEXT

• Remaining on the road, BU will visit Bucknell Wednesday (Feb. 12) with another opportunity for a sweep starting at 7 p.m.
• The Terriers pulled out an OT thriller at home, 85-82, back on Jan. 25.