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In a basketball season that has produced far too few highlight moments for the Harvard men’s program compared to the spectacular results by the women’s program, a pinnacle moment was reached at the Lavietes Pavillion on Saturday, as both teams recorded significant victories.
The men of Crimson pulled off a major upset, beating archrival Yale, 74-69, before an enthusiastic sellout crowd in game one of a day-night doubleheader event.
The victory snapped Yale’s 13-game win streak — the current longest in NCAA Division 1 men’s competition — handing the Bulldogs their first setback in Ivy League play after 11 straight wins.
Yale head coach James Jones, in his 26th year on the job, matched wits and strategies with Tommy Amaker, who is in his 18th season at Harvard. The historical perspective of two Black men coaching Ivy League basketball programs is one that deserves special mention.
Teammates Chandelier Piggé and Louis Lesmond just upset Yale. PHOTO: HARVARD ATHLETICS
Both Jones and Amaker have won multiple Ivy League basketball titles during their respective tenures: 296 regular season and 212 Ivy wins for Jones; and 468 regular season and 15 postseason appearances for Amaker.
It was clear to all in attendance that both Jones and Amaker had great respect for one another while trying to beat each other’s team. Their teams are a reflection of the two coaches. Yale, 19-7 overall and 11-1 in Ivy League play, beat Harvard, who is 11-15 overall and 6-7 in Ivy League play, 84-55 down in New Haven on Jan. 25.
The Crimson came out strong and jumped to a double-digit lead going into intermission. Yale made a late run behind the scoring of guard Bez Mbeng, who had 18 points; the sharp-shooting John Puolakidas, who had 12 points; and the strong inside play of Casey Simmons, who had 11 points and two rebounds.
Chandler Piggé was the brightest star for the Crimson, followed by teammates Evan Nelson, who had 12 points, Tey Barbour, who had 10 points, mainly on long distance shooting, and Louis Lesmond, who had 11 points.
But the biggest moment of the game belonged to freshman guard Austin Hunt, who played his high school basketball at Milton Academy. Yale wiped out a double-digit Harvard lead coming down the stretch of this contest, cutting the Crimson lead to just two points with 51.6 seconds left in regulation.
Enter young Hunt, who rose to the moment by hitting a tough, off-balance three-point shot as the 30 second shot clock expired. The crowd erupted to a crescendo level that rivaled any in the history of the Lavietes Pavillion. The Yale team knew that the curtain had been brought down on their undefeated Ivy League season and their 13-game overall win streak.
The 74-69 victory was the highlight of this season for the Harvard men’s team. After a Yale miss, Hunt was fouled and hit a pair of free throws to seal the victory.
“I was hyped,” said Hunt. “The shot clock was coming down, tight game, you know, been working all season on that … and I just had to get a shot off. Saw a little space and just let it go.”
Praising his team, Harvard coach Tommy Amaker said, “Just so proud of our guys for fighting and clawing. After last night [Friday’s 59-52 loss at Brown], that’s not easy to do, especially against this team. [I’m] really proud of our kids for their effort here this afternoon.”
Crimson senior guard Harmoni Turner elevates against the Quakers. PHOTO: HARVARD ATHLETICS
Summing up his team’s loss, Yale coach James Jones said, “I’ve got to tip my hat to them for their energy and their effort. Hopefully we can take this as a learning tool so we can be better with our last game of the year and going into the Ivy Tournament.”
Following a one hour plus intermission to slow down the elevated heart rate, the Ladies of Harvard took center stage, rallying from a slow start to record a 62-44 triumph over the University of Pennsylvania Quakers on Senior Day.
Following a disappointing 70-58 setback at home to Princeton on Friday night, the Crimson got off to a sluggish start, scoring only eight points in the opening 10-minute quarter. Their strong defensive effort was the only thing that kept them in the contest, until Harmony Turner and Elena Rodriquez caught fire.
Guards Harmoni Turner and Saniyah Glenn-Bello celebrate their win over Penn. PHOTO: HARVARD ATHLETICS
Turner, coming off one of her poorest outings of the year with just four points through two plus quarters before catching fire late in Friday’s game, responded like the All-Ivy performer that she is, tossing in 24 points and pulling down a game high 11 rebounds to lead her team. There was talk that she had been told to limit her shooting, a point that was clearly in evidence during the loss to Princeton. In the second half, the Crimson shut down Penn, allowing one field goal in almost six minutes. A 13-4 run bumped up the score to double digits and Harvard won going away
Senior guard Rodriquez backed her play with 17 big points as the Ladies of Crimson — 21-4 overall and 10-3 in Ivy League standings, good enough for third place — continued their magical season. “I’m really happy for Harmoni and Elena,” said Harvard coach Carrie Moore. “They really led us tonight. They came alive and that gave our team a lot of lift. I challenged them after yesterday to play well. We go as they go, and we need them to lead us.”
Moor also pointed out the contributions of senior Mona Zaric. “Her coming into the game and having an immediate impact is so deserving of someone that is so consistent with her approach,” she said, adding, “She’s a great example for what this program should be about.”
Presently the Harvard women’s team is ranked 37th in the country. The season-signature win for the men, coupled with the gritty comeback victory for the women, made it a pretty enjoyable weekend in Cambridge for basketball fans.
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