Notebook: Saunders Impresses, Chambers Struggles in Loss

While this might be senior Wesley Saunders’s last time playing in TD Garden wearing a Harvard uniform, don’t be surprised if the reigning Ivy League Player of the Year finds his way onto the hardwood of another professional team next year.

On a night when many of his teammates struggled, Saunders was dynamic, showcasing a plethora of moves that could ascend to the next level. The swingman poured in a game-high 24 points, shooting 50 percent from the field and going five-of-six from the charity stripe. The effort proved to be not enough to put Holy Cross away, as his team fell, 58-57, at TD Garden on Sunday.

“I think they came out with a level of intensity that was higher than ours, and we never matched it,” Saunders said. “This is a big reason why they came out on top, along with the turnovers and forcing us into tough shots.”

After Holy Cross burst out to an 8-0 lead, Saunders found senior Jonah Travis, setting up Travis for the dunk. Despite the slow start, Saunders remained calm. After knocking down a jumper, the Los Angeles native then proceeded to drain a seemingly nonchalant three-pointer as he shrugged off his defender.

Following a seven-minute stretch in the first half during which no Crimson player managed to score a single point, Saunders ignited the Harvard bench with an acrobatic up-and-under reverse flip shot, drawing the foul and completing the three-point play. With less than eight minutes to go in the first half, Saunders accounted for all of Harvard’s points aside from his assist to Travis.

Similarly, following a 9-0 run by the Crusaders to open up the second half, Saunders was able to stop their momentum by penetrating the lane and drawing the foul, before knocking down two free throws.

Saunders’ ability to control his body and finish with contact was on full display Sunday night. Countless times, Saunders used his wide frame to attack the lane and draw contact, hanging in the air and finishing for the and-one.

The senior’s aggressiveness and ability to finish around the rim forced Holy Cross to collapse on him, leading to open looks for sophomore marksman Corbin Miller and freshman Andre Chatfield from beyond the arc.

Though Saunders has been the team’s leading scorer the past two seasons, his presence on the defensive end helped keep the Crimson close all the way on Sunday night. He recorded game-highs in rebounds and steals, 12 and four respectively, along with three blocks.

Despite Saunders’ brilliant effort on both sides of the court, it all came down to one play. With 10.9 remaining and his team down one, Saunders dribbled the ball at the top of the key.

Looking for just one more buck, the senior drove and spun, getting his man in the air on the pump fake. While the jumper did not fall, it is seriously doubtful that Harvard would have even had a chance to steal the game from Holy Cross without his standout performance.

THE ENERGIZER BUNNIES

If slow starts continue to be a trend for Harvard, expect to see a lot more of Travis and Chatfield. Though neither player has the ability to really take over a game, both have exemplified a knack for providing a big boost for their team when it’s needed it the most.

After coming off of the bench for most of the 2013-2014 season, Travis started for the second straight game on Sunday. The forward was incredibly efficient, going four-of-six from the floor for nine points.

Travis displayed a great ability to move off the ball, and was the recipient of two beautiful bounce passes from Saunders and junior co-captain Siyani Chambers for emphatic dunks. In addition, just as Holy Cross looked as if it may distance itself, Travis showcased some nifty footwork, knocking down a fadeaway jumper to make it a one-possession game.

The senior was also a force in the paint. Travis grabbed seven rebounds and showcased an impressive ability to alter shots despite being only 6’ 6’’.

Chatfield, too, has provided a key spark for his team at crucial moments throughout the first two games.

After Harvard struggled to break away from MIT early in its home opener, Chatfield brought Lavietes Pavilion to its feet with a memorable one-handed slam. On Sunday, as Harvard again struggled in the first half, Chatfield provided key minutes, knocking down a clutch shot from deep to give the Crimson a 25-23 lead with two minutes remaining in the first half.

Chatfield struck again in the second period. Following a defensive rebound with 10:30 to play, Chatfield ran the floor, spotted up, and knocked down another three-pointer in transition with zero hesitation.

“He made two big threes which were big shots for us and gave us a shot in the arm when we needed it,” Amaker said. “I was very pleased with his performance and his poise.”

The speedy guard has fit right in with the fast pace of Chambers, as he has shown an ability to run the floor and get out on the break. As a result, with the game on the line on Sunday night, Amaker kept the freshman on the court, a clear sign of confidence in the young player.

At 6’ 4’’ and only 185 pounds, Chatfield’s build is much like that of the Los Angeles Clippers’s Jamal Crawford: skinny, lanky, with great footwork. But despite his slender frame, Chatfield has done nothing but battle and contest on defense.

The freshman pulled down four big rebounds on Sunday night, to go along with the three steals that he recorded against MIT. Chatfield played 21 minutes against Holy Cross, the most of any player off the bench.

“I never envisioned him playing as many minutes as he did, but we needed him,” Amaker said. “I was very impressed with his minutes and his effort.”

GIVING IT AWAY

The difference in Chambers from Friday night—when he did not turn the ball over once—to Sunday evening was night and day.

For a veteran who earned preseason recognition as a top point guard in the nation, Chambers’s performance against Holy Cross was something of an anomaly.  Flustered by countless double teams and full court pressure, the former Ivy League Rookie of the Year amassed nine turnovers in the loss.

“Your point guard has nine of the 24 [turnovers]—it is very difficult to think that we are going to beat a very good basketball team,” Amaker said.

But it wasn’t just the double teams and full court pressure that caused Chambers to lose the ball. Midway through the second half, Chambers had the ball taken right from his arms as he attempted to call out a play. Then, up 55-54 with just under three minutes to play, Chambers again struggled to break the press, traveling and giving the ball back to Holy Cross. Finally, after the Crusaders failed to score, Chambers, with 2:27 remaining, again lost the ball on an errant pass, leading to two free throws by senior guard Justin Burrell to put the Crusaders up, 56-55.

The press seemed to get to Chambers, who wasn’t available for comment after the game. He overthrew Saunders on a full-court outlet pass with just 1:54 left, allowing Holy Cross to eat up a majority of the clock.

However, with about 43 ticks remaining, Chambers proved that he was able to deal with the pressure. Down 58-55, Chambers drew another double team, and found co-captain Steve Moundou-Missi for the dunk.

But it was too little, too late.

Though Chambers is the point guard and assumes a majority of the responsibility for taking care of the ball, turnovers plagued more than just the junior co-captain on Sunday. Harvard had 24 turnovers on the night, more than double its average from a season ago.

“It’s not like they were going to call the press off or the pressure,” Amaker said. “We were not sharp where we needed to be, which was inbounding it and getting it across the half-court line. It was mind-boggling that we actually turned it over in that fashion.”

Harvard’s turnovers led to 27 points for Holy Cross. Meanwhile, the Crusaders only turned the ball over 11 times, a statistic that proved to be a true difference maker in its upset over No. 25 Harvard.

—Staff writer Andrew Farber can reached at andrewfarber@college.harvard.edu.