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Saturday, January 06, 2007
Holy Cross-Lafayette notebook
News and notes from Easton, where Holy Cross defeated Lafayette 84-74.
  • Lafayette broke to an early 8-2 lead and held the edge much of the first half. Holy Cross took its first lead on an Adam May putback with 6:35 to go in the half. A pair of free throws by Bial Abdullah made it 28-27, Lafayette. But May had another putback to put HC back up and the Crusaders held the lead the rest of the half.

  • Given Fran O'Hanlon's tendency to run a lot of folks in and out and Holy Cross' injury shortened bench, the surprise stat of the first half might be that HC has used 10 players, Lafayette just 9.

  • Abdullah is keeping Lafayette in this one with 10 points on 3 for 3 shooting, including a trey. Abdullah is also 3 for 4 at the foul line.

  • Both teams are 5 for 6 from the charity stripe in the first half. Lafayette is shooting 14 for 22 (63.6 percent), despite being 2 of 9 from the arc. Hc shooting 16 of 26 (61.5 percent), 5 of 7 at the arc. SO much for this being a game between two defensive oriented teams, eh?

  • Surprise stat number two: Rebounds in the first half dead even at 9 each.

  • Keith Simmons leads all scorers with 15 on 5 of 7 shooting, including 2 of 3 at the arc. Simmons also 3 for 4 at the foul line.

  • The advantage Tim Clifford was expected to give Holy Cross inside lasted only 3:08 of the first half. That is how long it took HC's 6-10 junior to find a seat next to the assistant coaches on the HC bench after two quick fouls. Clifford did return briefly with about 4 minutes to go.

    With Clifford out, Lafayette was aggressive in the paint. Only two of the Leopards first 11 buckets were threes. Most of the rest came within six or seven feet of the hoop.

  • Pat Doherty's first shot back was a three from the left side with 4:35 to go in the half. Nothing but net. Doherty is playing with a small piece of padding taped on his hand to protect the area where it was broke.

  • Freshman Adam May was a real spark off the bench in the first half for HC. May had 7 points on 3 for 4 shooting, two coming on offensive rebound putbacks.

    SECOND HALF

  • May's strong play in the first half earned him a start in the second. May played the three with Simmons sliding to the two-guard spot.

  • Clifford lasted exactly 1:43 of the second half before going back to the bench after picking up his third personal. When he returned, at the 16:34 mark, he quickly knocked down a bank-is-open three and a foul line jumper on a kick from Thomas penetration, giving him 7 points, all in the second half.

  • Doherty's second shot -- another three, another swish. It puts HC up 61-44 with 13:39 to play. He finally missed one 21 seconds later.

  • Clifford, with 9 points, picks up foul number four with 11:47 to play and returns to the bench. While he was on the floor, HC stretched its lead from 10 to 18, allowing just one field goal in a stretch of over six minutes.

  • Simmons jumper with is foot on the three-point arc at around the 12-minute mark gave him 25 points, a season-high. His career high is 30. Simmons 9 for 12 at the field and also has a game-high 6 rebounds with 6:36 to play.

  • With 5:44 to play, Torey Thomas tossed up a desperation shot, apparently falling for the trick countdown of the Lafayette women's team and some LC fans, who were a fgew seconds ahead of the actual shot clock. Pleased with their results, the women tried it again on HC's next possession and again got Thomas to rush a shot, but this one fell, foiling their efforts.

  • Clifford fouled out with 2:57 to play, leaving with 11 points on 4 of 5 shooting and 1 rebound.

  • Andrew Brown fouled out for Lafayette with 27.5 seconds left, leaving the game scoreless

  • HC's 84 points were there most this season. The previous high was 83 against Harvard.



    • Published at 4:38 PM by Hoop Time.
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