Jan. 2, 2005

Box Score

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (AP) - Kevin Hamilton scored 12 points and Torey Thomas chipped in with 11 as Holy Cross (7-4) held off a late Rhode Island (2-9) charge for a 51-50 win Sunday.

Holy Cross missed five foul shots and had a costly turnover in the final minutes of the game, but Rhode Island failed to capture the lead. Neither team scored a field goal in the final 4:02.

Terrence Mack led Rhode Island with a career-high 16 points, but went just two-of-four from the foul line in the final two minutes. Mack had a chance to tie the game with 1:10 to play, but made just one-of-two from the foul line, pulling Rhode Island to 51-50.

Holy Cross used an 8-0 run in the second half to build a 46-36 lead, the largest of the game for either team.

Rhode Island answered with its own 8-0 run to get back into it, with Mack scoring three points and Parfait Bitee hitting a 3-pointer.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair with four ties and nine lead changes. The largest lead of the half was a 23-19 advantage for Holy Cross after Hamilton made a jumper with 4:13 to play.

Mack slammed home a dunk with 22 seconds left in the first to tie the score, 23-23. Thomas hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to give Holy Cross a 26-23 lead at the half.