WORCESTER, MA (3/8/09) – Junior Eric Meister scored a career-high 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Holy Cross to a 61-44 win over Colgate in the semifinal round of the Patriot League Tournament Sunday at the Hart Center.

Colgate finishes its season with a 10-20 mark, while Holy Cross (18-13) advances to the Patriot League Championship game on Friday, March 13 at top-seeded American University.  The Eagles will be making their second straight appearance in the title game after edging Army, 61-60, in their semifinal game/

Patriot League Rookie of the Year R.J. Evans added 14 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Crusaders.  Colgate was led by freshman forward Yaw Gyawu (Lilburn, GA) with 13 points and four rebounds, while sophomore Mike Venezia (Westfield, NJ) added 12 points.

The taller Holy Cross squad shot 49 percent from the field, outscoring Colgate 50-20 in the paint.  The Crusaders also dominated the boards, 40-26.  The Raiders managed only 31 percent from the field.

The Crusaders jumped out to a 7-0 lead and never looked back as they led at halftime, 28-14.  In the second half, Holy Cross blew the game wide open with a 17-2 run for a 53-26 lead.  The closest Colgate would come was the final 17-point margin.

(Boxscore)