Saints Fall to IUNW

First Half

The Holy Cross College men's basketball team faced an uphill battle in the first half against IU Northwest, heading into the locker room trailing 31-22. Offensive struggles and a tough defensive matchup limited the Saints' ability to find a rhythm, as they shot just 9-for-29 from the field and 2-for-9 from beyond the arc. Davide Brembilla (Alghero, Italy / Don Bosco Prep) led the Saints with six points on an efficient 3-for-5 shooting, while Justin O'Neal (Dayton, OH / Dunbar HS) contributed four points and three rebounds. Despite aggressive play, O'Neal and the Saints were unable to capitalize at the free-throw line, going just 2-for-5 in the half. Phil Robles ii (South Bend, IN / Purdue Fort Wayne) and Drew Adzia (Crown Point / Crown Point HS) each knocked down a three-pointer, but the Saints struggled to generate high-percentage looks against a strong IU Northwest defense. Joey Garwood (Elkhart, IN / Penn HS) and Nash Hostetler (Dublin, OH / Dublin Coffman HS) also found it difficult to get going offensively, combining for just two points. On the defensive end, Holy Cross fought hard on the boards, pulling down 14 rebounds, with Karl Birgisson (Reykjavik, Iceland / Menntaskolinn i Reykjavik) leading the way with four. The Saints forced two steals and a block but were unable to create enough transition opportunities to shift the momentum.

Second Half

Despite a much-improved offensive performance in the second half, the Holy Cross College men's basketball team was unable to overcome their halftime deficit, falling 69-57 to IU Northwest. Justin O'Neal led the charge for the Saints, finding his rhythm after a slow first half to finish with a team-high 18 points. The senior guard shot an efficient 7-for-13 from the field, including two three-pointers, while also adding five rebounds. Joey Garwood provided a spark from beyond the arc, knocking down three triples and finishing with 13 points. The Saints showed more aggression offensively in the second half, shooting 36% (12-for-33) from the field and a much-improved 6-for-16 from three-point range. However, turnovers remained an issue, as Holy Cross committed nine in the half, limiting their ability to gain momentum. Phil Robles II added three points and a team-high three assists, while Nash Hostetler contributed on both ends with two assists and a steal. Despite a strong rebounding effort—grabbing 18 boards, including four from Davide Brembilla—the Saints struggled to get key stops down the stretch.

• Score: Holy Cross 57, Indiana Northwest 69
• Records: Holy Cross (8-12) | IUNW(16-5)
• Location: Gary, IN

• Justin O'Neal: 22 points (8-20-19 FG, 2-6 3PM), 8 rebounds 
• Joey Garwood: 13 points (4-11 FG, 3-6 3PM), 3 rebounds
• Phil Robles ii: 6 points (2-8 FG, 2-6 3PM), 4 assists

• Holy Cross shot 33.9% from the field and 32.4% from three-point range
• IUNW shot 42.9% from the field and 36% from three-point range
• Rebounds: IUNW 42, Holy Cross 40
• Turnovers: Holy Cross 13, IUNW 12