Holy Cross tops Lehigh for Patriot League title, NCAA berth

By foxsports
Published

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) Malachi Alexander scored 26 points and Holy Cross capped its stunning run to the Patriot League title and an NCAA Tournament berth with a 59-56 victory over Lehigh on Wednesday night.

The Crusaders are 14-19 and failed to win a conference road game during the regular season. Once the tournament started, the Crusaders won at Navy and American, then knocked off second-seeded Lehigh (17-15).

The Crusaders are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007.

Alexander made 6 of 7 3-pointers, more than enough for the ninth-seeded Crusaders to end Lehigh's school record-tying 11-game winning streak.

Holy Cross is the 20th team since 1985 to make the NCAA Tournament with a losing record, per STATS LLC.

Eric Green scored 13 points for the Crusaders.