Pregame
If you were planning on coming to Lewisburg and decided against it because of fears of a sellout, you were, unfortunately mistaken.

Sojka is crowded, and close to full, but there are definitely seats left.

Blame Bucknell's students, or at least those who opted not to return early from break.

Bucknell keeps 2,500 tickets available for students and staff. Those that went unclaimed went on sale this morning, but obviously a lot of fans were scared away from the earlier reports of a sellout.

One injury note -- Bucknell's Tarik Viaer-McClymont is in a traveling warmup suitand does not appear to be available. The 6-7 backup center, who missed the American game due to a bruised bone in his ankle, did take part in pregame warmups.

BU 8, HC 6 (15:18 first)
McNaughton with BU's first 4 points, and all three BU field goals, including a nasty dunk beating a late double down on the baseline by Vander Baan.

Simmons has 5 of HC's first 6, but was forced into a 5 second call by Lee on his most recent touch, after burying a three the previous trip down the floor.

Torey Thomas and Abe Badmus both picked up an early personal. That could be a situation to watch, especially for Thomas, given the lack of another point guard for HC.

BU 15, HC 7 (11:17 first)
Vegotsky hits his first shot -- a three from the left baseline. Ralph calls a quick TO.

Bucknell on a 9-1 spurt.

Bison with a 7-4 edge on the boards early. Both teams with 4 turnovers.

Bucknell shooting 55.6 percent (5-9). HC is 2-9 (22.2 percent).

Badmus just picked up his second personal. Bucknell's fourth team foul.

BU 20, HC 7 (8:17 first)
Lee for 3, another HC timeout.

Bucknell run now at 14-1.

HC has not had a field goal in over 7:30.


BU 26 HC 12 (3:45 first)When will Bucknell get a jersey for Bucky Bison, its mascot.

In his navy-blue I heart BU t-shirt with an orange vest, he looks like he just got off the senior citizens tour bus for the early bird at Old Country.

Kevin Hamilton is 0-5 and his frustration is showing. On a 2 on 1 break, instead of dishing to Thomas on the wing, he tried to go over McNaughton and got called for the charge -- his second personal.

Simmons (7) and Thomas (5) are the only Crusaders who have scored. HC is 3-15 from the field with 10 turnovers already.

BU 34, HC 14 (halftime)
It is a clinic in Sojka Pavilion, where Chris McNaughton just capped an incredible half by the Bison with a 10-foot jumper from the right side.

McNaughton has 10 points at the break. Seven other Bison sharing the scoring.

For Holy Cross, Simmons (7), Thomas (5) and Hamilton (2 on 2-4 free throw shooting) account for all the points. Hamilton is 0-6 from the field. The Crusaders had one field goal in the last 15:57, only three in the half. Overall they shot 3-17 (17.6 percent) and turned the ball over 12 times.

It is the Crusaders lowest scoring half of the season, eclipsing the 15-point second half at George Mason.

Bucknell shot 60 percent in the first half (12-20). The Bison also with a 13-9 edge on the boards.

Most telling stat: Points in the paint -- Bucknell 18, HC 0.

Dave Jones of the Patriot-News makes a good point -- with 10 BU fouls and 7 HC steals, the Crusaders had a lot of extra possessions and still only scored 14 points.

BU 38, HC 24 (15:47 2nd half)
Hamilton with two quick buckets -- 1 a trey -- to open the half and Simmons scores the first points in the paint for HC as they cut the BU lead to 34-21.

Then Lee hits two free throws and a put back to push the lead back to 17 points.

Hamilton answers with his second trey. Hamilton is now 3-9, 2-6 from 3-point range.

Vander Baan with 3 fouls for HC after picking up two quick in the second half. Bettencourt has 3 personals for BU. Nobody else with more than 2.

BU 40, HC 31 (13:00 2nd half)
Just like that, HC is back in this one. They have outscored BU 17-6 to open the half.

The key -- Kevin Hamilton, who all of a sudden has 14 points after going without a field goal in the first half.

BU 42, HC 31 (11:39)
Bucknell twice this half with easy buckets on inbounds plays under its own basket. The most recent by Donald brown to push the lead back to double digits.

Bucknell 3-11 from the field in the second half. HC 7-13.

BU 44, HC 35 (7:43 to go)
HC back in the game, but how long can they last with Hamilton, Simmons and Vander Baan each with 4 personals.

BU 51, HC 38 (4:42 second)

Bucknell pulling away without having scored a field goal since the 12:08 mark of the second half.

Bucknell 9-12 from the line since then.

Four HC players with 4 fouls -- Thomas, Vander Baan, Simmons and Hamilton.

Bucknell 56, Holy Cross 42 (FINAL)
Holy Cross made a game of it with a big run early in the second half. But the Crusaders ran out of gas down the stretch.

McNaughton with 15 for Bucknell. Lee added 12.

Kevin Hamilton with 18, 16 in the second half, for HC. Simmons with 12 and Torey Thomas 10.

Alex Vander Baan had the only other bucket for the Crusaders.