Holy Cross Crusaders vs Lafayette Leopards Picks and Prediction for Tuesday March 3 2026
The Holy Cross Crusaders travel to Easton, Pennsylvania, to take on the Lafayette Leopards on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM at Kirby Sports Center, and the game will be televised on ESPN+. At the time of this writing, the odds were not released. For more action across the board, be sure to check out our latest free college basketball picks for additional analysis and expert selections.
Crusaders Trying to Finish Strong
Holy Cross enters this matchup at 10-21 overall and 5-13 in Patriot League play. The Crusaders have struggled down the stretch, recently losing to Loyola Maryland 76-62 and Boston University 78-63. They did earn a 72-63 win at Bucknell but also fell to Lafayette 86-83 and Loyola Maryland 83-73. Consistency has been an issue, particularly on the defensive end.
Offensively, Holy Cross is averaging 67.8 points per game while allowing 73.3 points per contest. They shoot 44% from the field and pull down 31.3 rebounds per game. Ball movement has been limited at times, averaging just 10.6 assists per game.
Defensively, the Crusaders average 5.7 steals and 1.7 blocks per contest, but their inability to control the glass has hurt them. If Holy Cross wants to flip the script after losing to Lafayette in their last meeting, they will need improved defensive discipline and better execution late in the game.
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Leopards Building Momentum at Home
Lafayette comes into this contest at 11-20 overall and 8-10 in Patriot League action. The Leopards recently won over Army 83-77 and Colgate 70-69, while also earning an 86-83 win at Holy Cross. They dropped games to American 75-61 and Lehigh 78-69 but have shown more consistency than their opponent.
The Leopards are averaging 69.2 points per game while allowing 74.2 points per contest. They shoot 43% from the field and grab 33.3 rebounds per game. Lafayette also averages 13.5 assists per contest, indicating stronger ball movement compared to Holy Cross.
On the defensive end, Lafayette averages 5.7 steals and 2.3 blocks per game. Their ability to distribute the basketball and score efficiently inside has given them an edge in recent matchups, including the prior win over the Crusaders.
Holy Cross Crusaders vs Lafayette Leopards Pick
Holy Cross Crusaders vs Lafayette Leopards Pick
- Pick: Lafayette Leopards - Spread
Lafayette already defeated Holy Cross 86-83 recently and has been playing slightly better basketball overall. With the home-court advantage and superior assist numbers, I expect the Leopards to control tempo and execute more efficiently down the stretch.
Holy Cross Crusaders vs Lafayette Leopards Total Pick
- Pick: Over (if total is set at 140 or lower)
Both teams allow over 73 points per game, and their last meeting produced 169 total points. I expect another competitive game with scoring on both sides. I see this matchup trending toward a higher-scoring contest again.
Final Score Prediction: Lafayette 78, Holy Cross 72
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