BOSTON (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant interior presence and superior offensive execution, the Boston University Terriers defeated the Holy Cross Crusaders 78 to 63 in a Patriot League men’s basketball contest Wednesday night at Agganis Arena.

A crowd of 803 watched as the Terriers, led by a commanding performance from center Ben Defty, steadily pulled away from the Crusaders in the second half to improve their season record to 14 wins and 16 losses. Holy Cross fell to 10 wins and 20 losses.

The most critical phase of the game occurred late in the first half, when Boston University transformed a narrow contest into a lead it would never relinquish. With Holy Cross trailing by just two points at 27-25 following a 3-pointer from John St. Germain, the Terriers closed the opening period on an 11-6 run. The surge was fueled by a Donte Tisinger 3-pointer and capped by a Michael McNair layup off a steal, sending Boston University into the break with a 38-33 advantage. This stretch established momentum that Holy Cross could not counter after halftime.

Boston University’s offense operated with notable efficiency, scoring 78 points on just 64 possessions for an offensive rating of 122.6. The Terriers shot 55.8 percent from the field, making 29 of 52 attempts. Holy Cross, by contrast, managed only 63 points on 66 possessions, an offensive rating of 95.9, and shot 40.4 percent, hitting 23 of 57 from the floor.

The 7-foot Defty, from Berlin, Germany, was the game’s central figure, anchoring both ends of the floor. In 32 minutes, he scored 20 points, collected multiple rebounds, and registered four blocked shots, altering countless others. His defensive presence in the paint was a primary reason Holy Cross struggled to score consistently inside.

McNair, a guard from Temecula, California, matched Defty’s scoring output with 20 points of his own, adding four assists over 36 minutes. Chance Gladden of Raleigh, North Carolina, provided 14 points and three assists, while Azmar Abdullah of Cranston, Rhode Island, facilitated the offense with nine points and four assists. Sam Hughes of nearby Brookline, Massachusetts, contributed nine points.

Holy Cross was led by Gabe Warren of Plano, Texas, who scored 13 points. Tyler Boston of Severn, Maryland, added 10 points, and Aidan Richard of San Antonio, Texas, finished with eight. St. Germain provided a spark off the bench with eight points, all in the first half.

The Terriers expanded their five-point halftime lead early in the second period, using a 10-2 run to build a 52-42 advantage with just over 14 minutes remaining. A key sequence during this stretch saw McNair hit a 3-pointer, followed by a layup, effectively stifling any early Crusader rally. Holy Cross never cut the deficit below eight points the rest of the way.

Boston University also excelled in creating extra opportunities and limiting their own mistakes. The Terriers committed only eight turnovers, matching Holy Cross, but converted seven steals into transition points. The Terriers also shot 81.3 percent from the free-throw line, making 13 of 16 attempts, while Holy Cross went 9 for 12.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Boston University, which also defeated Holy Cross 72 to 64 on Feb. 2 in Worcester. The result aligned with pregame expectations, as Boston University was installed as a 7.5-point favorite. The combined point total of 141 fell under the over/under line of 143.

Holy Cross, which had won two of its last three games entering the contest, will look to regroup when it hosts Loyola Maryland on Saturday. Boston University, now winners in three of its last four, travels to face American University, also on Saturday.