Navy ./Holy Cross Holy Cross Men's College Basketball recap on ESPN

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) – Ryan Serravalle made a key basket late in regulation, then added two 3-pointers in overtime Friday as Holy Cross earned the Patriot League's berth in the NCAA tournament by beating Navy 68-64.

Serravalle hit a left-handed scoop shot with 29 seconds left in regulation to give Holy Cross its first lead since halftime, 57-55. But Robert Reeder made a short jumper in the lane to tie it with 15 seconds to go.

Juan Pegues could have won it for Holy Cross in regulation, but his shot at the buzzer hit the bottom of the rim.

It was 59-59 when Serravalle hit a 3-pointer to give the Crusaders (22-7, 11-2) their first lead of the overtime. After Chris Williams sank two free throws and a layup, Serravalle hit another 3 to give Holy Cross the lead for good, 65-63, with 1:25 left.

Williams had 25 points and nine rebounds, and Reeder had 11 and 12 for Navy (19-12, 9-4). Jared Curry scored 19 points, and Josh Sankes had 15 points and 17 rebounds for Holy Cross, which reached its first NCAA tournament since 1993.

Sankes was selected the Patriot League tournament MVP.

Navy trailed 26-25 at halftime before scoring 14 of the first 16 points in the second half – 11 of them by Williams. Holy Cross quickly cut its deficit to seven, then made its move with about six minutes left in the game.

It was 53-47 after Sankes made a free throw, then he added a dunk and picked up a foul. He missed the free throw, but the Crusaders rebounded and Sankes threw down another dunk to make it 53-51.

Williams briefly went cold, sandwiching a pair of airballs around a 10-foot jumper that left the Crusaders with a 55-51 deficit with 2:30 to play. But Sankes hit two free throws, and Jave Mead hit two more to tie it at 55 with 1:10 left.

Williams lost the ball out of bounds, setting up Serravalle's basket that put Holy Cross ahead. Serravalle finished with 17 points.

Navy last won the league title in 1998, but this was its sixth time in the title game since 1994.

Holy Cross, celebrating the 100th anniversary of its basketball program, won the NCAA title in 1947 with Bob Cousy, and the NIT title with Tommy Heinsohn in 1954, when that was the nation's top tournament.

But the Crusaders haven't won a game in either tournament since the 1981 NIT – going 0-4 in the NCAAs since 1956, including a 30-point loss to Arkansas in their last appearance.

Holy Cross won only eight games last year, and Friday's win meant the Crusaders matched the biggest turnaround – 12 wins – in school history. Coach Ralph Willard has already been named the Patriot League's coach of the year.

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Men's College Basketball Scoreboard

Navy Clubhouse

Holy Cross Clubhouse