Notebook: Free Throw Woes Continue To Paralyze Men's Basketball

With victory in its grasp, the Harvard men’s basketball team (9-11, 1-3 Ivy League) finally saw its flaws catch up to them.

After leading by 16 at the break, the Crimson scored just 21 points after intermission and missed the front end of two one-and-ones with under a minute left that would have sealed the win against the Columbia Lions (15-6, 4-0). Columbia, who memorably lost to Harvard on a Siyani Chambers ’16-’17 buzzer beater last year when they visited Lavietes Pavilion, got revenge a year later when Alex Rosenberg drained a jumper as time expired, leading Columbia to a 55-54 win.

“I thought we played with a great deal of resolve and determination and I’m so disappointed for our kids not being able to get this win after last night,” Harvard coach Tommy Amaker said. “… Sometimes you kind of need the W to validate some of the things you’ve been saying.”

FREE THROW TROUBLES

A theme throughout the early Ancient Eight schedule for the Crimson has been the foul shooting of its best players. Through three games, Harvard is just shooting 50 percent from the charity stripe. On Saturday, despite junior Zena Edosomwan, the team’s highest volume shooter, making three of his four attempts from the charity stripe, the team made just seven or its 13 shots from the foul line.

“We talked about this is going to show a lot about our team and character and I thought they did that in a lot of different ways,” Amaker said. “It’s a nip and tuck game. Rosenberg hit a very tough shot to win it and it’s very unfortunate for us.”

The most damaging misses came in the last minutes, when both senior Patrick Steeves and junior Corbin Miller—who both shoot better than 40 percent from long range—missed the front end of one-on-one opportunities. Miller, who was fouled with seven seconds to go after Columbia senior guard Maodo Lo missed a three-pointer that would have given Columbia the lead, had a crucial miss that led to the Rosenberg game-winner.

“I think tonight it was on us and it was about us,” captain Evan Cummins said.

Rosenberg’s final shot came as a bit of redemption. The Lions forward made a would-be against the Crimson two years ago in Levien Gymnasium, but a controversial charge call overturned it. Laurent Rivard ’14, who drew the charge, went on to hit crucial shots down the stretch as the Harvard exited New York with a season-defining double-overtime, 88-84 win over the Crimson.

On Saturday, Rosenberg got his revenge, draining a shot in the lane as time expired to send the Lions to their first win over Harvard in six attempts.

“Coach told us that we had one [foul] to give so I should’ve stepped up,” Cumins said. “I was thinking I had foul fouls, I should have taken it before he has a full head of steam and make them take the ball out.”

REVITALIZING THE LINEUP

One of the few highlights down the stretch for the Crimson was freshman Weisner Perez. The rookie had not scored in Ivy League play before Saturday night’s matchup, handing in six ineffectual minutes in the first three games, including a no-show in Harvard’s last road contest against Dartmouth. However, after his team had blown a 16-point halftime lead, Perez got started.

The freshman, who has been willing to take long jump shots all year, started his second-half scoring with a three from long range with 6:06 left in the second half. After his first three gave Harvard the lead, his second put the Crimson up again by three with less than four minutes to play.

“It was huge. The stretch he provided was amazing.” Amaker said. “I just mentioned to our staff that I was really disappointed we didn’t get the win because he would’ve been as much the reason why as anyone and I wish he could have been able to get credit for that.”

For the game, Perez had 10 points in just seven minutes, his most productive effort since scoring 15 points at Kansas in a 75-69 loss in December.

-Staff writer David Freed can be reached at david.freed@thecrimson.com