CRIMSON LIVE: Men's Basketball at Columbia

[:00] Nothing crazy to report here. The game finishes on a whimper as Loscalzo closes the game with some more free throws. Final Score: Columbia 61, Harvard 54.

[:21] Housman makes two free throws to bring the lead back down to six but it's a little too late to start thinking of a comeback now. Unless something crazy happens in the next 21 seconds, Harvard's two-game winning streak will come to an end tonight in NYC. [Columbia 58, Harvard 52]

[:24] Columbia's Brett Loscalzo has effectively put the Crimson to bed with his daggers from the charity stripe. Three FTs in the last twenty seconds have pushed the lead back up to eight. That's pretty much game folks. [Columbia 58, Harvard 50]

[:49] Columbia misses one free throw, McGeary misses another open three but Unger grabs a crucial offensive board and puts it back in. [Columbia 55, Harvard 50]

[1:01] Jeremy Lin nearly DUNKS the ball as Columbia gives him a free basket on the baseline. The Crimson need to start hitting some threes because right now they're just trading points with Columbia. [Columbia 54, Harvard 48]

[1:09] Jeremy Lin makes a mid-range jumper and gives the Crimson a much needed lifeline. [Columbia 52, Harvard 46]

[1:18] Not sure if Harvard NEEDS to foul here, but nevertheless, Harris fouls Columbia's #22 for the one and one opportunity. He makes both free throws and pushes the lead back out to eight. [Columbia 52, Harvard 44]

[1:30] Harvard has to foul and does, but Columbia misses both free throws. Back the other way, McGeary forcefully inserts himself into the back court, shrugs off two defenders and makes the basket. We *might* have a game here. [Columbia 50, Harvard 44]

[1:46] It doesn't look like a magical comeback is in cards tonight for the Crimson. Jeremy Lin makes the quick basket after a traveling violation by the Lions, but Columbia holds what seems to be a pretty insurmountable lead at the moment. [Columbia 50, Harvard 42]

[2:51] Another wide open three, another miss for Harvard (This time via Housman). Housman, clearly frustrated, draws his third personal foul. On the reset, Harvard picks up another quick foul, this time on McGeary. That's the team's sixth foul. And as I write that, Harvard picks up ANOTHER foul, this time on Unger. Big Ben gets the and one opportunity but misses the free throw. [Columbia 50, Harvard 40]

[3:52] I'm sure Amaker is trying to correct the defensive woes for the Crimson. It's not that they're playing particularly awful, they're just getting flat out-hustled by the home team. If Harvard continues to allow these easy fast-break opportunities, it's going to be a long ride up to Ithaca tonight. Columbia, shooting two, makes only one. [Columbia 48, Harvard 40]

[3:52] Housman gets the ball stolen, and the crowd is eating into Housman right now. Back on the other end, Columbia gets ANOTHER quick basket. Harvard has another turnover (This time, compliments of #55) and Columbia drives it back down the court.....and the Crimson have to foul to prevent another fast break basket. Timeout, Amaker. [Columbia 47, Harvard 40]

[5:00] Housman shooting two, makes them both despite the best effort from the New York faithful. [Columbia 45, Harvard 40]

[5:09] Controversial call here by the ref. Harris and Big Ben of Columbia (#55) fight for the loose ball, and #55 seemingly rips the ball away from Harris as it goes out of bounds but the call goes to Columbia. On the reset, #55 quickly puts in another basket down low. [Columbia 45, Harvard 38]

[5:39] Harris has been very active in the paint tonight and has been effective in drawing fouls. He makes one of two FTs again. [Columbia 43, Harvard 38]

[6:41] Harris finally misses a free throw, but manages to cut the lead to six. That's short lived however, as Columbia's #55 gets another basket down low. He tore up the Crimson last time these two teams played and he's back to old antics tonight. [Columbia 43, Harvard 37]

[7:30] Another offensive foul, this time on Housman. Columbia's #11 having trouble with the ball, almost gives it away, #24 recovers the ball but misses the shot. Pusar with the board drives it back down the other end. Housman with the ball finds a cutting Pusar but he MISSES the easy layup. Once again, Columbia throws the ball down court and gets another easy two points. [Columbia 41, Harvard 34]

[9:15] Unger with another interception down low, heaves it Tom Brady style to McGeary who drops in the bucket for two. Columbia jump right back at the Crimson's throats and makes the quick basket. I don't how many points they've scored on fast break opportunities, but Amaker must be worried about Harvard's lack of hustle. [Columbia 39, Harvard 34]

[10:29] And just like that, Dinc is back on the bench. You know for all the hype about him coming in, he's shown absolutely nothing on the floor for the Crimson this season. [Columbia 37, Harvard 32]

[11:42] #0 for Columbia almost pick-pocketed by Housman. Columbia gets the ball back and gives it right back to the Crimson as Unger intercepts the pass down low.

[12:01] Jeremy Lin inexplicably charges his man on the baseline and draws the offensive foul. I say inexplicably because Lin stretched out his elbow and proceeded to push his defender off the court. First team foul for the Crimson. [Columbia 35, Harvard 32]

[13:04] Once again, Harvard gets killed on the fast break transition. Amaker calls a timeout to settle the game down. On the floor for the Crimson: Housman, Lin, McGeary, Unger, and CEM DINC. This may get exciting. [Columbia 35, Harvard 30]

[14:03] And as I write that last comment, Unger promptly shuts me up by draining a clean three pointer. Columbia comes right back down the court to stretch the lead back out to three. [Columbia 33, Harvard 30]

[14:29] Another promising possession by the Crimson has gone awry. Jeremy Lin sets back for a mid-range jumper, misses, but is saved by Harris' offensive rebound. The ball gets kicked out to McGeary who misses another wide open trey. Luckily, baskets are hard to come by for both teams.

[15:34] Three defenders collapse on Housman, Housman wisely kicks it out to a wide open Unger.....but Unger misses badly. The crowd is giving him hell right now.

I made the terrible mistake of sitting right in front of the Columbia band section. My ears are going to start bleeding any second now.

[16:11] Stifling defense by the Crimson. Shot clock winding down, Columbia puts up a desperate effort and gets emphatically rejected by Jeremy Lin. Andrew Pusar surprisingly pushes it down the other end before getting fouled on the baseline. Pusar showing some nice wheels on the fast break. Media timeout.

[16:43] Harris fouled HARD going up for the layup. Kevin Bulger doing his best to live up to his last name takes out the big man. Harris shooting two.....Despite the VERY LOUD efforts of the Columbia home crowd (Sold Out), Harris swishes both free throws. [Columbia 31, Harvard 27]

[18:18] Errant pass from Brad Unger. Harris was open in the blocks but Unger missed him by at least a mile. Columbia, back on offense, showing some nice passing on the perimeter....gets to #20 who drains the long two pointer. [Columbia 29, Harvard 25]

[19:23] Jeremy Lin gets the Crimson rolling with some nice moves in the post. He fakes to the left, then drives to the right for the basket. [Harvard 25, Columbia 25]

Coming at you live from New York City, we have the Harvard Crimson taking on the Lions of Columbia in a classic New York - Boston match up. Stay tuned for second half highlights!


                                                                                    - MAURICIO A. CRUZ