Holy Cross Tops Sacred Heart in Double OT Thriller

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Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Matt LaPan, GoLocal Worcester Sports Reporter

The Holy Cross Crusaders opened up their home portion of the 2013-14 season with a bang on Wednesday night, topping Sacred Heart 122-118 in double overtime. Sophomore Cullen Hamilton paced the Crusaders with a career-high 35 points, including shooting 7-13 from three-point range.

Hamilton led a trio of Crusaders that downed the Pioneers. Hamilton, senior Dave Dudzinski and freshman Malachi Alexander combined for 84 points and 31 rebounds. Of all of Hamilton's points, perhaps none were bigger than a three-pointer with 1:09 left in the second overtime, followed by three-of-four free throws. "I felt like nobody was in the gym when I made those (shots)," Hamilton said. "To me it wasn't any pressure because I just shoot those shots all the time."

"I told (Hamilton), 'You're going to have a big game'," head coach Milan Brown said. "I'm going to have to start saying that every time because it worked out. But, really impressed with him. He just works so hard."

As impressive as Hamilton was on the outside, the Crusaders dominance on the interior was the difference in the game. For the game, the Crusaders outscored the Pioneers 54-38 in the paint. They were led by senior Dave Dudzinski and Malachi Alexander. Dudzinski finished with 26 points and 15 rebounds in a jaw-dropping 49 minutes of action while Alexander went for 23 points and 13 rebounds in 43 minutes.

Dudzinski's dominance in the post ended up saving the Crusaders by grabbing a last-second offensive rebound and converting the basket with just 3.3 seconds left in regulation and his team trailing by three. Dudzinski then converted a high-pressure free throw to tie the game at 98.

"We worked on that a little bit with the free throw," Brown said. "The rebounding situation. Earlier, when we were fouling we tried to, with Malcolm (Miller), swing him low and bring Dave across the lane.

The ball bounced the right way, but you had to put yourself in position. He did what he was supposed to do and the ball bounced where we thought it would go, where we hoped it would go, he'd have a chance. And then to finish up with the left hand it was tough, and there was no doubt he was going to make the free throw."

The 240 combined points set a record for the Hart Center, besting the previous mark set in 1988 of 222 points. The win comes just before a huge road trip for the Crusaders as they head to No. 12 North Carolina for an 8 PM game that can be seen on ESPNU.