POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (AP) Robert Champion came off the bench to scored 16 points and grab eight rebounds to help lead Holy Cross to a 67-64 win over Marist in the season opener on Friday night.
Matt Husek scored 12 points and pulled down 11 rebounds and Cullen Hamilton finished with 11 points for Holy Cross.
Holy Cross opened the game on a 12-2 run spurring the Crusaders to a 31-24 halftime lead.
The Red Foxes battled back early in the second half, stealing the lead back on a Khallid Hart layup with 15:21 to play. Marist extended its lead to 52-46 with 10 minutes left when Holy Cross went on its final run, taking the lead back for good on another Alexander 3-pointer with 7:22 left.
Marist had a final chance to tie, but Kristinn Palsson missed a 3 with one second left.
Hart had 21 points, Palsson fishished with 15 for Marist.
