University of Maine
Holy Cross
Men's Basketball Falls Just Short at Holy Cross 57-54
11/14/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
WORCESTER, Mass. -- The University of Maine men's basketball team dropped a 57-54 decision to Holy Cross on Wednesday night in Worcester, Mass. Alasdair Fraser (Falkirk, Scotland) led the way for the Black Bears with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Holy Cross jumped out to a 8-4 lead, but five straight points by Fraser gave Maine a 9-8 lead with just under 12 minutes to play in the first half.
Maine used a 16-2 run midway through the first half to extend its lead to 20-10 with 6:25 remaining. Zarko Valjarevic (Belgrade, Serbia) drained a key three-point field goal during the stretch. Holy Cross answered back with a 9-2 run of its own to pull to within three points at 22-19. The Crusaders pulled to within one point, but Maine drained a three-point field goal by Jon Mesghna to extend the lead to once again. Holy Cross closed out the first half with six straight points to take a 27-25 lead into intermission.
Maine was led in the first half by Fraser, who tallied nine points, while Xavier Pollard (Bronx, N.Y.) chipped in with six.
Holy Cross used an 11-3 run to open the second half and extend their lead to 38-28. A Fraser hoop snapped the run and then the Black Bears were able to get a stop the next time down the court. The momentum was short-lived, as Holy Cross answered with a three-point field goal.
Maine tied the game at 50-50 with four straight free throws by Fraser. The Crusaders answered with five straight to extend their lead to 55-50 with 3:10 to play in the game.
Maine pulled to within one point on a hoop by Fraser, but that is as close as they would get. Holy Cross hit a pair of free throws with three seconds remaining. Maine had a shot at the buzzer, but the ball bounced off the rim.
Fraser led the Black Bears with 21 points and 15 rebounds. Pollard added 14 points and eight rebounds.
Maine falls to 0-2 on the young season, while Holy Cross improves to 3-1.
The Black Bears return to action on Sat., Nov. 17 when they host Brown at 7 PM.
-U-M-
