Crimson Ties Program Record With 19th Win

It was a night for the Harvard record books.

On Friday night, the men’s basketball team earned its 19th victory of the year, matching the record for most wins in a season first set in 1946.

“We’re very proud of those things,” Crimson coach Tommy Amaker said. “Sometimes you can think that if you don’t win the Ivy League, if you don’t go to the NCAA tournament, there’s nothing to play for. There are a ton of [records and opportunities] that we’ve pointed out.”

Freshman Brandyn Curry led Harvard with a career-high 21 points to help his team score a total of 91 points, its highest offensive output of the season, as the Crimson (19-6, 8-3 Ivy) cruised to a comfortable victory over Brown (10-18, 4-7), 91-71, at Lavietes Pavilion.

Harvard’s up-tempo style of play—the team finished with 17 fast-break points—and its deadly accuracy from deep—the Crimson shot 12-of-19 from three-point range—combined to produce a perfect offensive storm.

“It’s always fun to get up and down and get a lot of shots,” sophomore Oliver McNally said. “We got some long rebounds and turnovers in the first half, which really got us open and going in the open court, which got us into a rhythm.”

Curry and fellow point guard McNally flourished in the fast-paced setting, netting a combined 35 points on 8-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc.

“There’s no question that there’s a really good vibe when those two kids are out there playing,” Amaker said.

While Curry and McNally had little trouble lighting up the scoreboard themselves, the two also managed to find open looks for their teammates. Curry finished with five assists while McNally added four.

“We’re both really unselfish players,” McNally. “It’s fun to play with somebody who’s always looking to get other people shots and help make other people better. It’s been really cool playing with him the entire year.”

But the duo’s unselfishness was eclipsed by co-captain Jeremy Lin, who finished with seven assists while being held to just eight points. On the eve of Senior Night, it was the Crimson’s underclassmen that carried the load, accounting for 73 points—or 80 percent of the team’s scoring.

“I think it shows that the rest of the team is progressing,” McNally said. “Some of the younger guys are really finding their spots where they’re good at scoring and converting. And [Lin] got to sit a lot in the second half, so he’s going to be healthy and kill it tomorrow.”

The Crimson used its fast-paced style of play to its benefit on the defensive end as well, using its guards to pressure the Bears’ ball-handlers. The tactic was largely successful, as Brown coughed up 10 first-half turnovers.

Harvard’s defense played a critical role in allowing the Crimson to come back from an early 23-18 deficit.

Over the next 6:32 of play, Harvard held the Bears to just six points, as the Crimson went on a 25-6 run to give Harvard the 43-29 lead.

Fittingly, McNally ignited the run with a deep ball while Curry capped if off with a three-pointer.

McNally’s shot that got things started came with just a few ticks left on the shot clock. A loose ball found itself in the hands of sophomore Max Kenyi, who then kicked it out to McNally, spotted up a step outside the perimeter. When McNally’s shot sailed home, the Crimson’s deficit was cut to just two.

McNally tied the score on Harvard’s next possession, this time faking the deep shot and then getting to the basket, where the 6’3” guard finished with a left-handed layup.

The Bears regained the lead with two free throws from Matt Sullivan, but Curry answered for the Crimson with a deep two. Harvard took the lead for good when Curry intercepted a pass and found sophomore Keith Wright as he cut to the basket in transition for the layup.

From there, the Crimson lead would grow.

Senior Pat Magnarelli, playing in his first game since suffering an injury in late January, got open for an easy layup. Then Curry got an and-one layup and an alley-oop from Lin to fall.

The freshman ended the run off a catch-and-shoot three-pointer from classmate Christian Webster to extend Harvard’s lead to 14.

“I was just wide open, just taking my shots,” Curry said. “My teammates had a lot of great passes. I was just shooting my shots.”

By the end of the first half, the Crimson lead ballooned to 21 as Harvard finished with 54 first-half points.

“I was very pleased with our first half—I thought we played very efficiently,” Amaker said. “We really wanted to push the ball up the floor. We wanted to transition as quickly and as efficiently as possible.”

While Harvard allowed Brown to net some easy baskets early in the second half, the team settled down and cruised to the 20-point victory.

—Staff writer Martin Kessler can be reached at martin.kessler@college.harvard.edu.