Holy Cross Outlasts Bison Men in PL Semifinals, 64-57

Wild Second Half Includes 14 Lead Changes

Brian Werner scores 14 points against Holy Cross, Sunday.

March 3, 2002

Box Score

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) - Tim Szatko had 19 points and 12 rebounds to lead Holy Cross to a 64-57 victory over Bucknell in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals Sunday night at Show Place Arena.

The Crusaders (17-14) advance to the Patriot League Championship at American on Friday, while Bucknell ends its season with a 13-16 record and a ninth semifinal appearance in 12 years.

Bucknell led by as many as six points in the first half, but Holy Cross scored the last five of the half to reduce the Bison lead to 27-26 at intermission. What ensued was a wild second half that began with the two teams alternating the first 11 baskets of the stanza. There were a total of 14 lead changes and seven ties in the second half, and neither team gained a two-possession advantage until Szatko's layup with 2:05 remaining gave the Crusaders a 58-54 lead, their largest since 6-2.

Chris Rodgers gave Bucknell's its final lead of the night at 54-53 when he made 2 of 3 free throws with 4:25 remaining. Jave Meade answered with a 15-foot jumper with 3:20 left, giving Holy Cross the lead for good. After Szatko's basket made it a four-point game, Bucknell lost possession on a turnover. Holy Cross missed two shots but grabbed the offensive rebound both times, and the Bison were forced to foul Ryan Serravalle with 34.6 seconds remaining.

Serravalle made 1 of 2 free throws before Brian Werner drained a long 3-pointer to make it a two-point game, 59-57 with 24.8 seconds left. Bucknell immediately called timeout, but as the teams were settling on their respective benches, the Bison bench was whistled for technical foul. Serravalle made two more free throws to make it 61-57, then after being fouled on the ensuing inbounds, Patrick Whearty made two more from the line to put the game out of reach.

The defensive slugfest featured a total of 45 fouls, 27 of which were assessed to Bucknell. Holy Cross made 27 of 37 free throws, compared to 14 of 21 for the Bison. The Crusaders shot only 38.3 percent from the field but grabbed 18 of their 37 rebounds on the offensive glass.

Werner and Boakai Lalugba led Bucknell with 14 points apiece, while Bryan Bailey added 11 points and a team-high six rebounds. Bucknell shot 40.0 percent from the field and made 7 of 15 from 3-point range.