Coming back from break, the Holy Cross men’s basketball team was thrown right back into the action as it faced off against the Governors State Jaguars on Wednesday, losing 81-59.
In a high-scoring first half, the Jaguars started off strong, scoring the first five points. Senior guard Justin O’Neal got the Saints on the board with a jump shot, and senior guard Nash Hostetler closed the gap with a layup that brought the score to 5-4. The Jaguars quickly responded with two more layups to bring the score to 9-4, but after a shooting foul, Hostetler added on two free throws to bring the score back within three.
Governors State responded with a layup, but Hostetler followed by bringing the ball down the court and adding his own layup. The Jaguars answered with a layup of, and after a foul was called, they added a free throw to make the score 14-8. The Saints did not stop as sophomore guard Joey Garwood and O’Neal both tacked on layups to bring the score to 14-12, but the Jaguars were equally aggressive, putting in two three-point shots, a free throw and two layups to stay ahead at 25-12.
Garwood added a three-point shot, but that was quickly followed by two layups from the Jaguars to make the score 29-15. Garwood continued to keep the ball rolling for the Saints, adding on another three-pointer, but the Jaguars responded with a three of their own to make the score 32-18. Garwood continued to prove his strong offense as he drained a third triple and added on a layup to bring the score to 32-23 before the Jaguars countered with two jump shots and a dunk, bringing the score to 38-23.
Freshman forward Davide Brembilla scored his first three points of the night to bring the score to 38-26. The Jaguars responded, adding a layup, but the Saints pushed back with a three-point shot from senior guard Phil Robles II, bringing the score to 40-29. The Jaguars added on five more points, but Garwood responded by scoring a jumpshot to finish the half with the Jaguars up 45-31.
Ahead in the second half, the Jaguars scored the first three points with a triple, making the score 48-31, but after a shooting foul was called, Robles added on two free throws to bring the score to 48-33. The Jaguars quickly responded, adding eight more points for themselves, but Garwood hit another three-point shot to bring the score to 56-36. After going back and forth, Governors State added on a layup, but O’Neal wasted no time to return the favor, adding on a jump shot to bring the score to 58-38.
The Jaguars added on four more points for themselves, but Garwood opposed with a layup to make the score 62-41. A three from the Jaguars made the score 65-41, but freshman forward Karl Birgisson sank a layup, and sophomore forward Aris Duni added a free throw to bring the score to 65-44.
After the Jaguars five straight points, junior Drew Adzia added two free throws, Hostetler made two layups and a free throw and O’Neal contributed a layup to bring the score to 73-55. The Jaguars responded, putting in a free throw, but Hostetler put in a jump shot to bring the score to 74-57, The Jaguars then were able to add on two free throws, making the score 76-57. Senior forward Jordan Montrose added a layup, making the score 76-59, but a five-point run to close from the Jaguars clinched the 81-59 Governors State win.
Garwood led the team on offense, finishing with 21 points, while Duni totaled seven rebounds. The Saints will now look ahead to face Viterbo on Saturday, Jan. 18, starting at 4 p.m.
