Saints Fall to Trinity Christian

First Half: 

The Holy Cross College men's basketball team faced an uphill battle in the first half, trailing 49-26 at the break. Despite a strong start from Nash Hostetler (Dublin, OH / Dublin Coffman HS) and Joey Garwood (Elkhart, IN / Penn HS), who each tallied 10 points, the Saints struggled to find offensive consistency. Hostetler was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field, adding two free throws, while Garwood knocked down 2 three-pointers to keep Holy Cross within striking distance early. Off the bench, Justin Milch (Pacifica, CA / College of San Mateo) provided a spark with 5 points and 5 rebounds, but overall, the Saints shot just 10-of-29 from the floor and 3-of-10 from beyond the arc. Defensively, Holy Cross battled on the boards, securing 16 rebounds, with Milch and Callaghan Weatherspoon (Dayton OH/Chaminade Julienne Catholic HS) leading the way. However, turnovers and missed opportunities at the free-throw line 3-of-9 allowed their opponent to extend the lead heading into halftime.

Second Half:

Despite a stronger offensive effort in the second half, the Holy Cross College men's basketball team was unable to complete a comeback, ultimately falling 92-72. The Saints showed improvement on the offensive end, scoring 46 points after halftime, but their opponent maintained control of the game. Joey Garwood led the charge with an impressive 21-point second half, shooting 7-of-12 from the field and knocking down five three-pointers. Justin O'Neal (Dayton, OH / Dunbar HS) added 9 points while also contributing defensively with 2 steals and three rebounds. Phil Robles ii (South Bend, IN / Purdue Fort Wayne) chipped in with 7 points, including a three-pointer and a perfect trip to the free-throw line. The Saints found their rhythm from beyond the arc, hitting 7-of-14 three-pointers in the half, while also cleaning up their free-throw shooting, going a perfect 5-for-5. Nash Hostetler controlled the glass, grabbing 6 rebounds, while the team recorded 11 assists and 7 steals. However, turnovers and defensive struggles allowed their opponent to maintain their lead down the stretch.

• Score: Holy Cross 72, Trinity Christian 92
• Records: Holy Cross (9-17) | Trinity Christian(8-19)
• Location: McKenna Arena, Notre Dame, IN

• Joey Garwood: 31 points (11-21 FG, 7-11 3PM), 2 rebounds 
• Nash Hostetler: 12 points (5-6 FG), 8 rebounds
• Justin O'Neal: 9 points (4-13 FG), 3 assist

• Holy Cross shot 40.9% from the field, 41.7% from three-point range and 57.1% from the free-throw line
• Trinity Christian shot 50.8% from the field, 45.5% from three-point range and 68.4% from the free-throw line
• Rebounds: Trinity Christian 41, Holy Cross 40
• Turnovers: Holy Cross 11, Trinity Christian 10