Holy Cross Crusaders vs Lehigh Mountain Hawks Picks and Predictions for Thursday March 5 2026
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The Holy Cross Crusaders travel to face the Lehigh Mountain Hawks in the Patriot League Championship Quarterfinal on Thursday March 5, 2026 at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+. At the time of this writing the odds were not released for the moneyline, total, or spread. Be sure to also check out our free college basketball picks for more daily college basketball betting insights.
Crusaders Enter the Tournament Looking for Another Upset
Holy Cross enters this Patriot League quarterfinal with an 11-21 overall record and a 5-13 conference record. The Crusaders have struggled on the road throughout the season but come into the tournament with some momentum after recently winning over Lafayette 82-77. They also recently lost to Loyola Maryland 76-62, lost to Boston University 78-63, picked up a win over Bucknell 72-63, and lost to Lafayette 86-83.
Offensively, Holy Cross averages 67.8 points per game while shooting 44% from the field. The Crusaders pull down 31.3 rebounds per game while averaging 10.6 assists. Defensively they have struggled, allowing 73.4 points per game, which has been one of the major reasons for their losing record this season.
One area that could help Holy Cross stay competitive in this game is their ability to grind out possessions and create timely offense. While they do not dominate statistically, they have shown flashes of scoring efficiency and have found ways to stay competitive when they control the pace of play.
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Mountain Hawks Hoping Home Court Carries Them Forward
Lehigh enters this quarterfinal matchup with a 15-16 overall record and an 11-7 Patriot League record. The Mountain Hawks have been solid down the stretch, recently winning over Bucknell 89-79, defeating American University 78-73, and beating Boston University 70-67. They also recently lost to Navy 72-49 but picked up a win over Lafayette 78-69.
The Mountain Hawks average 73.3 points per game while shooting 46% from the field. Lehigh also averages 31.6 rebounds per game while distributing 14.5 assists per contest, showing a balanced offensive approach that relies on ball movement.
One of the strengths of this Lehigh team is their offensive balance and ability to move the basketball. With strong assist numbers and efficient shooting, the Mountain Hawks can stretch opposing defenses and create high-quality scoring opportunities.
Holy Cross Crusaders vs Lehigh Mountain Hawks Pick
Crusaders vs Mountain Hawks Pick
- Pick: Lehigh Mountain Hawks Spread
Lehigh appears to have the edge in this matchup thanks to their offensive efficiency and home court advantage. The Mountain Hawks shoot the ball better and move the ball more effectively than Holy Cross, which should allow them to control the tempo of the game. With Holy Cross struggling defensively throughout the season, Lehigh should be able to generate consistent scoring opportunities.
Crusaders vs Mountain Hawks Total Pick
- Pick: Take the Over
I like the over in this matchup because Lehigh tends to play at a pace that generates scoring opportunities, and Holy Cross has struggled defensively throughout the season. When Lehigh gets their offense flowing, they can push games into higher scoring territory, and Holy Cross has shown the ability to contribute enough offense to help push the total upward.
Final Score Prediction: Lehigh 76, Holy Cross 68
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