Tim Clifford scores 23 points to help Holy Cross defeat Yale, 60-39

11/28/2007 8:40 PM

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) -Tim Clifford scored a season-high 23 points with eight rebounds and six blocks to pace Holy Cross to an easy 60-39 victory over Yale on Wednesday night.

Colin Cunningham added 13 for the Crusaders, who improve to 6-and-0. Nick Holmes, Caleb Holmes and Eric Flato each scored 8 for Yale, which sank to 1-and-4 after losing its fourth straight game.

Holy Cross played without its leading rebounder, Alex Vander Baan, who suffered an Achilles tendon injury in practice earlier this week.

Holy Cross was never threatened. Cunningham converted back-to-back three point field goals to ignite a 13-5 run to give them a 17-8 lead with 9:00 left.

After Nick Holmes scored two free throws to bring Yale within 17-10, Clifford then took over, sparking a 13-7 to the end of the half, scoring five points, including a three-pointer for 30-17.

Yale put together its best run of the night, a 10-3 surge later in the game. Matt Kyle scored inside, Flato and Caleb Holmes each scored in transition and Nick Holmes converted a three to make it 47-31.

But Cunningham then answered with a three from the right corner to extend the lead to 50-31 with less than eight minutes remaining.