ALEX GROSS REGISTERS HIS SECOND CAREER TRIPLE-DOUBLE IN CONVINCING WIN OVER HOLY CROSS

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The RV Olivet Nazarene University men's basketball team hosted the Saints of Holy Cross College on Saturday afternoon inside McHie Arena. The Tigers dominated from the beginning of the game and won their eight straight CCAC contest, 100-64.    

The Tigers got off to a blistering start as they did not allow a Saint point in the first eight minutes of the game. At the beginning of the game, the Tigers saw threes from Tyler Schmidt and Griffin Andricks as they highlighted an 18-0 run.  After a Saint field goal, the Tigers continued to pour it on and went on an 11-0 run.  During this stretch, Caleb Swearingen and Landon Pflederer both buried three-point baskets.  The Tigers took a commanding 29-2 lead. 

With seven minutes to go, the Tigers saw their lead balloon to 36-14 and then went on a 10-0 run extending their lead to 46-17.  Alex Gross scored the final three points of the half as the Tigers took a 53-23 lead going into the half.  Schmidt led the Tigers with 11 points and Gross led the Tigers with 10 boards. 

Halftime: RV Olivet Nazarene 53, Holy Cross 23

Barik Olden kicked off the scoring for the Tigers as they led 55-23.  With 15 minutes left in the game, Pflederer drained back-to-back threes to make the score, 67-37. ONU continued to control the pace of play.  At 71-44, Olden made a three and Gross dropped in a layup and grew the ONU lead to 76-44. Down the stretch, the Tigers saw great production, off the bench, from James Owen, Tobi Sonuga, David Krumsieg, and Logan McCann. 

The Tigers hit the century mark for the second time this season as they knocked off Holy Cross, 100-64. 

GAME VITALS

Final: RV Olivet Nazarene 100, Holy Cross 64

Records: RV Olivet Nazarene: 18-3 (12-1 CCAC) | Holy Cross: 10-12 (5-9 CCAC)

Location: McHie Arena | Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, Ill.

QUICK HITS

• Gross led the Tigers with his second career triple-double with 20 points, 10 assists, and tied a season-high with 17 boards. Gross also hit all nine of his field goals.    
• Gross became the third Tiger eclipse the 1,000-career rebound mark and 1,000-point mark in a career. 
• Schmidt scored 20 points with five rebounds and five assists. 
• Plfederer followed with 15 points, going five-for-five from behind the arc. 
• Olden, Andricks, and Caleb Corro contributed 14, 13, and 10 points, respectively. 
• Andricks followed Gross with a career-high seven rebounds.  
• The Tigers outscored the Saints, 52-24, in the paint and 31-6 off the bench. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The RV Tigers hit the road for the a four-game roadtrip.  The Tigers' first stop is in Deerfield, Ill. as they play the Trojans of Trinity International University on Monday, January 24th.  Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m.

--ONU—

*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu