NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- Jacob Grandison scored a career-high 25 points on four 3-pointers with nine rebounds and eight assists and Holy Cross beat Iona 78-71 on Sunday for its third straight win, all over Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference teams.

Austin Butler added 17 points and Caleb Green 14 for the Crusaders (9-4), who shot 54 percent in their final nonconference game and boosted their Patriot League-leading assist average (17.8) with 18.

Tajuan Agee scored 18 points with a career-high 12 rebounds and Rickey McGill added 16 points for the Gaels (2-9), who shot 49 percent but lost a seventh straight game in their first home contest since a Nov. 9 season opener.

Butler scored seven points in a 10-2 run late in the first half that led to a 40-33 lead at the break. The Gaels got within four in the second half, the final time with two minutes left. But Butler made a layup and Green sank three free throws while Iona went 0 for 4 to trail by nine with a half-minute left.