DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE 1 College Street, Worcester, MA 01610 Phone: (508) 793-2583 • Fax: (508) 793-2309 www.GoHolyCross.com [email protected] 2016-2017 HOLY CROSS MEN’S BASKETBALL HOLY CROSS (10-10, 4-3 PL) vs. AMERICAN (5-13, 2-5 PL) JANUARY 23, 2017 • 7:05 P.M. HART CENTER AT THE LUTH ATHLETIC COMPLEX (3,536) • WORCESTER, MASS. GAMEDAY QUICK FACTS: 2016-2017 SCHEDULE & RESULTS Television: CBS Sports Network; Jason Knapp, play-by-play; Mo Cassara, color DATE OPPONENT ..................TIME / SCORE Holy Cross Radio: WEEI 1440 AM, Worcester; www.weei.com/holycross, Nov. 13 at South Carolina # .....................L, 49-81 internet; Dick Lutsk, play-by-play Nov. 15 at #18 Syracuse # ......................L, 46-90 Unofficial Live Statistics: www.GoHolyCross.com Nov. 20 MASSACHUSETTS % ................L, 60-68 Series Record: American leads, 19-18 Nov. 22 at Harvard ...........................W, 63-52 Last Meeting: American 71, Holy Cross 70 (OT; February 21, 2016; Nov. 25 SOUTH CAROLINA STATE #. W, 73-57 Worcester, Mass.) Nov. 27 MONMOUTH # ......................L, 77-80 Nov. 30 at Albany ............................W, 55-49 PROBABLE HOLY CROSS STARTERS: Dec. 3 at New Hampshire ......................L, 53-56 Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG Dec. 7 at Maine .............................L, 53-55 Dec. 11 QUINNIPIAC .......................W, 75-57 F 1 Karl Charles 6-6 200 So. 10.5 3.6 Dec. 18 at Rhode Island ........................L, 54-65 F 21 Malachi Alexander 6-7 217 Sr. 14.4 5.5 Dec. 21 at Sacred Heart .......................W, 72-67 C 42 Matt Husek 6-11 240 Sr. 6.7 2.4 Dec. 23 MARIST ............................W, 68-59 G 2 Anthony Thompson 5-10 150 Sr. 6.2 2.6 Dec. 30 at Boston University * ..................L, 55-61 G 22 Robert Champion 6-6 203 Sr. 12.2 3.4 Jan. 2 NAVY * .............................W, 51-50 Jan. 5 at Colgate * ..........................W, 67-61 The Holy Cross men’s basketball team returns home on Monday, Jan. Jan. 8 BUCKNELL * ........................L, 49-68 23, when it plays host to American at 7:05 p.m. The game between the Jan. 11 LAFAYETTE * ......................W, 71-54 Crusaders and the Eagles will be shown live to a national audience on the Jan. 14 at Lehigh * ...........................L, 51-68 Jan. 18 at Army West Point * ..................W, 85-76 CBS Sports Network. The contest will also air live on WEEI 1440 AM in Jan. 23 AMERICAN * .......................7:05 p.m. Worcester. Jan. 25 at Loyola (Md.) * .....................7:30 p.m. Holy Cross has won four of its last six games, and is coming off an Jan. 28 at Navy * ............................4:00 p.m. 85-76 victory at Army on Wednesday. The Crusaders lead the Patriot League Feb. 1 COLGATE * ........................7:05 p.m. in scoring defense (63.7 points per game), steals (8.9 steals per game), Feb. 6 at Bucknell * .........................7:00 p.m. assist-to-turnover ratio (1.34-to-1) and turnover margin (+5.0 turnovers Feb. 8 at Lafayette * .........................7:00 p.m. per game). Feb. 12 LEHIGH * .........................12:05 p.m. Senior forward Malachi Alexander leads the team by averaging Feb. 15 ARMY WEST POINT * ...............7:05 p.m. 14.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Senior guard Robert Feb. 19 at American * ........................2:00 p.m. Feb. 22 LOYOLA (MD.) * ....................7:05 p.m. Champion has also enjoyed a solid season, averaging 12.2 points, 3.4 Feb. 25 BOSTON UNIVERSITY * .................TBA boards and 1.8 steals per contest. In addition, sophomore forward Karl Feb. 28 Patriot League First Round Charles has added 10.5 points, 3.8 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game. Mar. 2 Patriot League Quarterfinals American enters the game with an overall record of 5-13 and a 2-5 mark Mar. 5 Patriot League Semifinals in the Patriot League. The Eagles defeated Lafayette 71-57 on Wednesday, Mar. 8 Patriot League Championship Game to snap a four-game losing streak. Freshman guard Sa’eed Nelson leads the team by averaging 15.7 Home games played at the Hart Center points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2.6 assists per game. Sophomore at the Luth Athletic Complex unless otherwise noted forward Delante Jones has added 12.0 points and 3.7 boards per contest, * Patriot League games # Brooklyn Hoops Holiday Invitational while freshman center Mark Gasperini is chipping in with 11.4 points and % DCU Center, Worcester, Mass. 4.8 rebounds per game. All times listed are Eastern Standard Time Following the contest with American, Holy Cross will travel to Loyola (Md.) for a 7:30 p.m. game on Wednesday, Jan. 25. 13 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES: 1947, 1948, 1950, 1953, 1956, 1977, 1980, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2016 2016-2017 HOLY CROSS MEN’S BASKETBALL COACHES VS. CANCER WEEK: During the American game, members MEDIA SERVICES & POLICIES of the Holy Cross coaching staff will be taking part in Coaches vs. Cancer Suits & Sneakers Awareness Week, a collaborative initiative of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Cancer Society. The INTERVIEWS coaches will wear sneakers instead of dress shoes with their usual game Personal interviews with head coach Bill Carmody, his staff and attire to demonstrate their support for the American Cancer Society and the players can be arranged through Charles Bare at (508) 793-2583 or fight against cancer. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of coaches across the [email protected]. Arrangements for all interviews should be country, Coaches vs. Cancer participants have raised more than $87 million made at least 24 hours in advance. Home phone numbers will not be since 1993 to help the American Cancer Society fund groundbreaking cancer given out, and on game day, only postgame interviews will be granted. research, provide up-to-date cancer information and education, advocate for public health policies that benefit communities, and deliver services that POSTGAME PROCEDURES improve the quality of life for patients and their families. The Holy Cross basketball locker room is closed to the media. Members of the media should submit player interview requests to PROTECTING THE BALL: In 20 games played so far this season, the Charles Bare of Holy Cross by the five-minute mark of the second Crusaders have only turned the ball over 210 times, for an average of 10.5 half. For games at the Hart Center, a postgame press conference will turnovers per contest. Holy Cross has posted single-digit turnovers seven be held in the Bud Ryan Room on the second floor following a brief times this year, including a season-low of seven at Army, Boston University cooling off period. and Harvard. Last year, the Crusaders committed only 386 turnovers in 35 games, for a Patriot League-low average of 11.0 turnovers per contest. In AMERICAN MEDIA INFORMATION 2014-2015, Holy Cross averaged 10.9 turnovers per contest, with 328 total Any media member wishing to speak to head coach Mike Brennan turnovers in 30 games. That mark was the lowest in the Patriot League and or an American player should contact SID Nick Guerriero at (202) also set a school single-season record. 885-3032 or [email protected]. HOLY CROSS STEPS UP ON DEFENSE: The Crusaders have been one of the top defensive teams in the Patriot League during the 2016-2017 THE SERIES WITH AMERICAN: This will be the 38th meeting between season. In 20 games played, Holy Cross limited its opponents to just 63.7 the Crusaders and the Eagles on the hardwood, with American leading the points per game. The Crusaders have forced 15.5 turnovers per contest all-time series 19-18. The Eagles have won eight straight and 14 of the last this year, while averaging 8.9 steals per game. Holy Cross has held nine 17 contests played by the schools. The Crusaders hold an 11-6 advantage of its 20 opponents to under 60 points, with lows of 49 points by Albany for games played in Worcester, but the Eagles have won in each of their and 50 points by Navy. last three visits. Holy Cross and American first played on Dec. 21, 1967, with the Crusaders winning 81-57 on the road. SERIES QUICK FACTS ARMY RECAP Overall. American leads, 19-18 In Worcester .....................Holy Cross leads, 11-6 Karl Charles scored a career-high 24 points to lead Holy Cross to At the Hart Center .................Holy Cross leads, 11-6 an 85-76 victory over Army West Point at Christl Arena on Jan. 18, Bill Carmody vs. American. .1-2 2017. Clayton Le Sann also had a huge high, netting a career-high 13 Mike Brennan vs. Holy Cross ........................7-0 points on five of six shooting from the field. The Black Knights held Current Win Streak ................American, eight games a 56-39 lead with 16:56 remaining in the second half, when the Cru- In Overtime .................................Tied, 2-2 saders went on a 19-6 run to get back into the game. Le Sann scored 13 straight points for Holy Cross during that spurt. The Crusaders CHARLES BUILDS ON ALL-ROOKIE SEASON: Sophomore forward were still down by four (70-66) with six minutes left, before scoring Karl Charles has been a key player for the Crusaders this season, after the next 10 points to take their first lead of the night. Charles drained being named to the Patriot League All-Rookie and All-Tournament teams a back-to-back three-pointers during that run, including one which put year ago. Through 20 games played this year, he has averaged 10.5 points, Holy Cross in front for good.