Inspirational Thomas gives Crusaders a lift

WORCESTER -- Torey Thomas was at less than full speed for Holy Cross last night. But he was moving well enough to lead the Crusaders to a 57-55 victory over Boston University in a nonconference game at Hart Center.

Thomas, who sustained a knee bruise in practice Sunday and a groin strain in the first half last night, scored 4 points in the final 2:24 as the Crusaders (7-7) closed the contest with a 10-4 run.

''The littlest guy sometimes has the biggest heart," said HC coach Ralph Willard of Thomas's hard-charging style. ''We have to roll the dice and go with it. He has toned back his aggressiveness, believe it or not."

BU (5-8) had rallied from an 8-point deficit early in the second half to take a 51-47 lead on Corey Hassan's foul shot with 4:01 remaining. Kevin Hamilton countered with two foul shots with 2:59 to play and Thomas converted a 3-pointer 25 seconds later.

Omari Peterkin scored on a follow for a 53-52 BU lead, but that would be the Terriers' final field goal. Holy Cross regained the lead on Tim Clifford's inside move with 1:24 remaining and concluded the scoring on free throws by Alex Vander Baan and Thomas in the final 35 seconds.

''I am banged up, but being hurt is different than being injured," said Thomas, who had 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 steals. ''I am a 40-minute guy. If you are hurt, you just have to throw some dirt on it, like Coach Willard says."

But the outcome remained in doubt until the final seconds.

Peterkin's shot hit the supports with 21 seconds to go, then Hamilton missed two free throws three seconds later. Brian Macon, who had taken only one shot (a successful 3-pointer 5:48 into the contest), cut the BU deficit to 56-55 with two foul shots with 11 seconds remaining.

Sean Wynn committed his fifth personal foul with five seconds left, Thomas hitting a foul shot. And BU's Tony Gaffney missed from the corner just before the final buzzer.

''We had to get some stops, and we pride ourselves on getting stops," Thomas said. ''The harder the game, the more you've got to grit it out for the victory."

Hamilton (arm bruise) also was injured in practice Sunday.

''We only have nine guys to practice, plus a walk-on," Willard said. ''And [the Terriers] don't have 10 guys to practice, either. We know what we have to do, but we don't have a lot of substitutes."

BU had won five of seven after beginning the season with five successive defeats.

''You are not going to win many games when you miss 12 free throws [BU was 11 for 23]," said Terriers coach Dennis Wolff. ''From our vantage point, that was the story of the game. We didn't finish plays off at the free throw line."

Peterkin would be the only Terrier to convert from the field in the final 7:05, but after his follow gave BU a 48-46 edge with 5:24 to play, he would score only once more from the field. Thomas rebounded a missed Wynn 3-pointer to set up Hamilton's free throws 62 seconds after Hassan had given BU a 4-point advantage.

''We had a good look at a shot which would have stretched it to 7," Wolff said. ''And that might have put us over the hump. Both teams were tired, but they had a little more at the end than we had."

After Thomas's free throw provided HC with the final margin of victory, he missed the second shot, BU rebounding and setting up Gaffney for the final shot.

''You are between a rock and hard place there," Wolff said. ''But, based on the way the game was going, I thought it was better to push it down the floor."