Game to be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network - Channel 363 on NewWave Communications' cable; Channel 613 on DirecTV; and Channel 152 on Dish Network.

THE OPENING TIP

Lafayette and Holy Cross are two of the four teams tied for second place in the Patriot League standings at 2-1. The Leopards are coming off a 79-65 loss to first-place Bucknell on Saturday while Holy Cross lost 67-54 at American. The game will be televised nationally by CBS Sports Network.

Freshman guard Seth Hinrichs is making his pitch for Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors. He has been named P.L. Rookie of the Week five times this season, most recently on Jan. 16. Hinrichs tied a career high with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting coming off the bench against Bucknell on Saturday. Hinrichs is averaging 9.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per game. He has started 14 games.

The last time Lafayette and Holy Cross met was in the 2011 Patriot League Tournament Quarterfinal, a 77-70 Lafayette victory in Worcester. Lafayette had five players score in double figures led by 19 from Ryan Willen. Lafayette took two of three games from Holy Cross in 2010-11.

In the Leopards' last outing, Bucknell used a 9-2 run to start the second half and never looked back in a 79-65 win Saturday afternoon. Lafayette did not have an answer for Bucknell junior center Mike Muscala who had 27 points. Lafayette committed a season-low six turnovers, but were handled on the glass 34-18. Bucknell was 15-of-15 at the line, with Muscala accounting for nine of those points.

Preseason All-Patriot League selection Tony Johnson made his season debut vs. Army. Johnson, who missed 16 games with a back injury, finished with three points and four assists in 20 minutes. Against Bucknell, Johnson started the game, contributing nine points, five boards and three assists in 29 minutes.

With five rebounds against Bucknell, Ryan Willen became the 13th player in Lafayette basketball history to score 1,000 points and secure 500 rebounds. The senior forward has 1,276 career points and 503 career rebounds, joining recent addition Jared Mintz '11 (1,245 points, 516 rebounds) on the list.

Senior forward Ryan Willen has scored in double figures in six straight games and in 15 of Lafayette's 18 contests this season.

Lafayette is 4-0 when hitting 14 or more three's and 4-0 when opponents score 20 or fewer field goals.

ABOUT HOLY CROSS

Holy Cross sits in a four-way tie for second place in the Patriot League standings, beating Lehigh (84-78) and Navy (73-69) while losing at American (67-54). The Crusaders are 8-9 overall and 6-1 at home.

Statistically, Holy Cross is the conference's best team in defending the three, allowing opponents 29 percent while shooting 35 percent on their own end.

Senior guard Devin Brown, a 2011 All-League Second-Team selection, leads the team in scoring (15.7 ppg) and has a team-best 33 three's. Redshirt junior R.J. Evans has returned to form after missing the final 21 games of last season due to injury. The 2009 Patriot League Rookie of the Year is averaging 12.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Freshman Justin Burrell (7.1 ppg) has taken over at point guard and is second in the Patriot League with 4.3 assists per game. Senior Mike Cavataio (6.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg) made a recent return from injury after missing the first 13 games.

Up front, sophomore forward Dave Dudzinski (10.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and junior center Phil Beans (6.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg) round out the starting five.

Milan Brown (Howard '93) is in his second season as head coach at Holy Cross where he has a 16-30 record.