Holy Cross Goes Dancing

Holy Cross beat Bucknell 74-66 on Friday night to win the Patriot League championship and the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament that goes with it. It was a bumpy ride to get the championship though.

The Bucknell Bison's stormed out of the gate taking a 9-4 lead but behind the play of Patriot League MVP Keith Simmons and senior point guard Torey Thomas the Crusaders came back and with 5 minutes to go in the half Holy Cross had built and 11-point 29-18 lead which they were able to maintain for a 35-22 halftime score.

Two things to mention about halftime. First I have to ask if I was alone in wondering what the deal was with the three Holy Cross students dressed as chickens? Secondly - I know I wasn't alone in wondering if the old man who passed out and needed medical attention was a bad omen for Holy Cross for the second half of the game. The old guy looked clearly embarrassed as he was taken out of the Hart Center on a stretcher. Would Holy Cross be likewise embarrassed in the second half?

Holy Cross fans are similar to Red Sox fans who usually expect the worst (most Holy Cross fans are in fact also Red Sox fans). The fans knew that in the January game between these two teams Holy Cross built up a double digit lead only to squander it but were luckily able to hold on for a 3-point victory.

The Crusaders tried to dispel this pessimism by coming out strong in the second half to open an 18-point lead 41-23 by the 18:00 mark. The disquiet was palpable, however, when Bucknell was able to cut the lead to less than double digits at 46-38 with 12 and a half minutes to go in the second half.

Bucknell was actually able to later tie the game with just under 6 minutes remaining and the Holy Cross fans were clearly uneasy. Keith Simmons was not to be denied though and he rallied the Crusaders back into control of the game. Simmons (23 points) and Thomas (28 points) were just too much for the Bisons to handle. The duo accounted for almost 70% of the Crusader scoring whereas Bucknell relied upon a more balanced attack with 4 players reaching double digits in points.

It must be said that the fans storming the court at the end has to be one of the most special things in all of sports and one of the reasons why college sports are so great. Holy Cross may be going into the tournament as a 16 seed but they will be going to the dance where anything can happen. If Keith Simmons and Torey Thomas (not to mention center Tim Clifford) bring their A games - anything is possible.

Go Holy Cross!