Saints Win in Overtime Against St. Ambrose

First Half

The Holy Cross Saints men's basketball team entered the locker room with a narrow 34-30 lead over St. Ambrose after a competitive and hard-fought first half. The Saints relied on a balanced effort, with Justin O'Neal (Dayton, OH / Dunbar HS) leading the way offensively and defensively, scoring 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting while grabbing 5 rebounds to anchor the team. Guard Joey Garwood (Elkhart, IN / Penn HS) provided a significant boost with 11 points, including a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, while Phil Robles ii (South Bend, IN / Purdue Fort Wayne) added 5 points and 3 rebounds off the bench. The Saints also dominated the boards, outrebounding the Fighting Bees 22-17, and their aggressive defense limited St. Ambrose's second-chance opportunities while forcing tough shots. Behind efficient free-throw shooting and strong rebounding, the Saints established their presence in what had been a back-and-forth contest. 

Second Half

The Saints battled through challenging contest that saw both teams trading momentum, with Justin O'Neal hitting a clutch three-pointer in the final seconds of regulation to force the extra period. The Saints showed grit and resilience, with multiple players stepping up when it mattered most. O'Neal, who finished with 9 points, demonstrated his leadership and composure with the game-tying shot. Nash Hostetler (Dublin, OH / Dublin Coffman HS) had an outstanding second half, scoring 9 points on 4-of-5 shooting while adding 5 rebounds and 3 assists to provide a spark on both ends. Joey Garwood contributed 6 points, including key free throws, while Phil Robles ii made his presence felt with 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 4. Defensively, Holy Cross stayed tenacious, holding their ground despite St. Ambrose's pressure. Davide Brembilla (Alghero, Italy / Don Bosco Prep) led the rebounding effort with 6 boards, while the Saints forced turnovers and limited second-chance opportunities for the Fighting Bees.

Overtime Period

The Holy Cross Saints dug deep in the overtime period to outlast St. Ambrose, earning an 80-75 victory in a high-stakes showdown. The Saints displayed grit, poise, and timely execution, scoring 13 points in the extra frame while locking down defensively to secure the win. Justin O'Neal continued his clutch performance in overtime, going a perfect 2-for-2 from the field and adding 4 points while pulling down a crucial rebound. Nash Hostetler chipped in with 2 points on flawless free-throw shooting and anchored the Saints with his steady play. Joey Garwood came up big at the free throw line, hitting 3 of 5 free throws to lead the Saints in scoring during the period with 5 points. Davide Brembilla provided an essential physical presence on the boards, grabbing 3 rebounds and sinking a free throw in overtime. Phil Robles ii added 1 point and helped maintain the Saints' defensive pressure, which forced St. Ambrose into difficult shots and limited their second-chance opportunities.

• Score: Holy Cross 80, St. Ambrose University 75
• Records: Holy Cross (10-8) | St. Ambrose (12-7)
• Location: McKenna Arena at Holy Cross College

• Justin O'Neal: 23 points (11-19 FG, 6-11 3PM), 6 rebounds 
• Joey Garwood: 22 points (5-15 FG, 11-13 FTM), 6 rebounds
• Phil Robles ii: 13 points (4-11 FG, 2-3 3PM), 8 rebound

• Holy Cross shot 38.2% from the field and 30.4% from three-point range
• St. Ambrose shot 41.2% from the field and 32% from three-point range
• Rebounds: St. Ambrose 39, Holy Cross 53
• Turnovers: Holy Cross 11, St. Ambrose 13