Holy Cross downs Lafayette 67-54 with balanced attack

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) Malachi Alexander scored 14 points with four 3-pointers to lead Holy Cross to a 67-54 win over Lafayette Wednesday night for the Crusaders' third win in a row and the Leopards' eighth-straight loss.

Robert Champion and Anthony Thompson scored 12 points apiece and Karl Charles and Cullen Hamilton added 10 each for the Crusaders (10-14, 5-8 Patriot League). Holy Cross outrebounded Lafayette 40-21 in avenging their 65-52 loss to Lafayette on Jan. 13, the last time the Leopards won a game.

Holy Cross opened the second half with a 13-8 run and built their four-point halftime advantage to a 50-38 lead on Alexander's back-to-back 3-pointers.

Champion hit a 3 to spark a 9-3 run and the Crusaders increased their lead to 15 points, 61-46, and Holy Cross and finished with a 6-3 run.

Bryce Scott led Lafayette (5-19, 2-11) with 18 points and made 5 of 8 3-pointers.