Tag Archives: Tommy Amaker

Jan 27 2013

Mass. College Hoops: News And Notes From Saturday’s Slate

By Matt Noonan 

There were some interesting outcomes on Saturday in the college basketball world, and below are a few thoughts on the various games.

* I want to congratulate the Bentley University women’s basketball team for earning their 30th consecutive win against an East Region opponent, as Barbara Stevens guided the Falcons to 75-66 win against New Haven. Courtney Finn registered her second straight double-double, while Tyler Parker Kimball recorded a career-best 15 rebounds in 20 minutes. The Falcons are now 17-0 and 13-0 in Northeast-10 Conference play.

* Against UMBC, Boston University’s men’s team had six players record double figures in the Terriers 11th win of the season. Dom Morris, Malik Thomas, Maurice Watson Jr., John Papale, D.J. Irving and Nathan Dieudonne each tallied 10 points or more. The Terriers hadn’t had six scorers record double figures in a game since 2003.

* Kelly Greenberg picked up her 250th win as a head coach, as the BU women’s basketball team rebounded from their loss to Albany with a win against UMBC. The Terriers are now 17-4 overall and 7-1 in America East play.

* Harvard’s men’s basketball team overcame a seven-point deficit with 1:10 remaining and went onto defeat the visiting Dartmouth Big Green in overtime, 82-77. Tommy Amaker’s squad is now 10-6 overall and 2-0 in the Ivy League.

* Anna Maria’s men’s basketball team has been a rather quiet story this year. However, their most recent win a few days ago against Albertus Magnus certainly created a ripple across the region. Yesterday, they earned their eighth consecutive win by defeating Johnson & Wales, 76-68. Anthony Clink led the AMCATS with 22 points, while also recording eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals.

* Daniel Wohl upped his status to Big Man On Campus following his go-ahead layup with 31 seconds remaining, as Williams College handed Middlebury College their first setback of the season in Williamstown. The Ephs are now 17-2 overall and 6-0 in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC).

* Amherst College’s men’s basketball team is on a roll and has now won 11 straight contests. The Lord Jeffs haven’t dropped a game since falling to Babson College on December 6. On Saturday, they defeated Trinity College to earn their sixth conference win, along with their 17th of the season.

* Tufts University’s women’s basketball team earned its 20th consecutive win of the season by defeating Bates College, 55-34. Since the Jumbos started playing basketball in 1972, the Powder Blue and White have tallied 20 wins or more in four seasons. The most wins the Jumbos have recorded were 26, which occurred during the 2007-08 season.

* Amherst’s women’s basketball team picked up its 19th consecutive win of the season, as the Lord Jeffs defeated Trinity College, 67-47. Marcia Voigt and Savannah Holness each tallied a game-high 13 points.  

* The New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) got off to a slow start, but as of recently, it is a two-horse race for the number one spot. Elms College and Newbury College are both 8-1 in the conference and 10-8 overall. Becker College is also 10-8, but 6-3 against conference foes. Newbury defeated Elms earlier this season, but will tangle with them once again on Saturday, February 16.

* Babson College and Smith College each picked up important road wins and remain neck and neck in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC).

* Framingham State’s women’s basketball team shocked Worcester State yesterday, as the Rams handed the Lancers their first setback in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC). Kristen Hoffman, Madeleine Park and Kia Minor each tallied 11 points or more in their team’s 11th victory.  

Feb 24 2012

Mass College Hoops Recap: Harvard 67, Princeton 64

By Matt Noonan

CAMBRIDGE, MA – Consider this one of those “check the box” type of weekends for the Harvard University’s men’s basketball team, who’s currently on par to wrap up the Ancient Eight.

On Friday, they completed their first task, as they defeated a rather impressive Princeton University squad, 67-64.

“What a tremendous win by our kids, and our program,” said Harvard head coach Tommy Amaker. “Princeton has been an absolute sensational team and program in this conference forever, and we have the utmost respect of what they’ve accomplished, and how tough they’ve been against us.”

“There’s no doubt about it that we’ve always [been] looking up at [them] in some ways to try and figure out how to get out of a game against them,” added Amaker. “I just thought our defense, and our will to win [on Friday] was outstanding.”

Harvard mounted a small 7-0 lead during the first few minutes thanks to junior Kyle Casey, who led all scorers with 20 points, before Princeton’s sophomore T.J. Bray drew a foul and registered one point from the charity stripe. Bray’s stroke somehow electrified the Tigers offense, as seniors Douglas Davis and Patrick Saunders combined for four triples at 8:50, which helped Princeton pull ahead, 21-20.

Princeton then went on a 12-3 run, which was halted by freshman Steve Moundou-Missi, who’s layup at 3:38 rejuvenated Harvard’s offensive unit to end the half on a 7-0 run.

“We locked down and [defended],” said Casey of his team’s first half rally. “Against their offense, you’ve got to defend for 35-seconds, and you know, you breathe, they score, so we had to really lock down, stay discipline, and just defend, and make them take tough shots and finish the possession with a rebound.”

Davis, Bray and junior Brendan Connolly helped Princeton’s offense earn a 50-43 lead halfway through the second frame, which was eventually erased by Moundou-Missi, junior Brandyn Curry and senior Keith Wright, who helped Harvard regain the lead at 9:29.

Both teams then swapped a few baskets until Curry sank a critical trifecta at 6:54, which gave Harvard a 57-55 advantage. Curry then recorded a jump shot in the paint literally two minutes later before Bray connected from beyond the arc to make it 59-56 with 2:02 remaining.

“We have confidence in [Brandyn],” said Amaker. “He’s a confident player, and he’s been able to kind of lead us in these last couple games. [The] Yale ballgame, he was outstanding, and certainly [on Friday] in so many different ways.”

Bray then provided his team with an additional bucket in the paint before he fouled Casey, who marched to the free throw line and connected on both shots from the stripe.

Princeton then called a timeout, and penciled a play for junior Ian Hummer, who’s shot in the paint hit iron instead of nylon, which forced the forward to foul senior Oliver McNally, who wound up recording six consecutive free throws on three separate trips to the line to secure the victory, as well as a season split.

“I wasn’t always a great free throw shooter, [but] I worked really hard at it, and every time I get to the line, I tell myself, you’re a senior, you’re a captain [and] you have to make those,” said McNally. “I would have taken this type of game over a 30-point blowout because we’ve been in that situation so many times against Princeton in my four years.”

Harvard’s next task will occur on Saturday, when they welcome University of Pennsylvania to Cambridge for yet another critical matchup. The Quakers defeated Dartmouth College on Friday, 57-54, and have won four of their last five matchups, as well as remain in second place in the conference standings.

“It’s a quick turnaround, so it’s all about getting your rest, and coming back with a mental mindset to fight the next night,” said Casey, when asked about-facing Penn.  “This league is won on Saturday nights, so [I’m expecting] a real, gutsy battle for both teams.”

Feb 24 2012

Critical Friday Showdown For Harvard Men’s Basketball

By NoontimeSports.com 

Friday’s contest against Princeton University is a big one for Tommy Amaker’s Harvard University Crimson basketball team, who needs a win against the Tigers as well as a victory on Saturday against University of Pennsylvania to clinch a share of the Ancient Eight, (Ivy League).

“Obviously [they were] our last loss, and they’ve been an outstanding team and program in this league forever, and they’re always going to have a swagger about who they are,” said Amaker. “We’ve always had our hands full as we all know, so we’ll try to prepare as well as we can, and see if we can stay healthy, [but overall] we’ll be ready to go for [Friday].”

Princeton defeated Harvard a few weeks ago, and extended a 23-game losing streak for the Crimson in Tiger territory.

Although, excluding that particular loss, this weekend is very important for both squads, especially the men in orange and black, who’re still in contention to secure their second consecutive conference crown.

The Tigers currently reside in fourth place with 15-10 overall record and 6-3 in conference play, while Harvard remains the top squad at 23-3 and 9-1 in the league.

The Crimson earned two critical wins last weekend against Brown University and Yale University, and certainly seems determined to close out their schedule with four more wins. If Harvard can extend its current winning streak to six games, then they’d finish the season 27-3 overall, and most likely enter the NCAA tournament as a No. 10 seed.

Noontime Sports will be at Lavietes Pavilion on Friday for the Harvard-Princeton showdown, and will be providing updates on Twitter @NoontimeSports.  

Feb 19 2012

Mass College Hoops Recap: Harvard 66, Yale 51

By Matt Noonan

CAMBRIDGE, MA – Following the conclusion of Saturday’s contests against Yale University, Harvard’s men’s basketball head coach Tommy Amaker told reporters that he was rather pleased with his team’s effort against the Bulldogs, as well as the Brown University Bears on Friday.

“I thought we came this whole weekend with a resolved [effort] to become a better defensive team, and we certainly achieved that in both victories,” said Amaker. “I was very, very proud of our kids for the effort they were able to bring and the start of both games.

Amaker was also content with the play of junior Brandyn Curry, (18 points) who netted a majority Harvard’s second half points, which helped the Crimson prevail against a gritty Bulldogs squad, 66-51.

“He’s been our playmaker, and he made plays [on Saturday],” said Amaker. “It was nice to see him find a rhythem, and be offensively aggressive and making plays.”

“I just had openings, and I just went for it,” said Curry. “They had a couple of guards that were hurt, so we just had to ware them down, so I was just attacking all night.”

Yale jumped out to a quick three-point lead thanks to senior Greg Mangano, (22 points, 11 rebounds) before Harvard sophomore Lauren Rivard responded with a trifecta 40-seconds later, which jumpstarted the Crimson offense that finished the first frame with 20 points in the paint.

Senior Oliver McNally pulled Harvard ahead for good when he sank back-to-back three-pointers, which gave Harvard a 15-9 advantage at 13:06. Freshman Travis Jonah followed up with a pair from the free throw line before Harvard’s offense tallied four consecutive layups to increase their lead to 27-13.

The Bulldogs offense eventually came to life following a four-minute scoring drought late in the first half, as sophomore Jeremiah Kreisberg recorded a layup at 3:31, which led to nine consecutive points by Yale before the buzzer sounded to conclude the first 20-minute period.

“[Yale this season] has been down, [but] they’ve just marched their way back in and won games, and that’s a mark of a good team, and a tough team,” said Amaker.

Once the second half started, Yale’s offense was electric, as Kreisberg sparked the Bulldogs to go on a 10-7 run, which eventually was halted when Curry and freshman Corbin Miller knocked down a few three-pointers to pull Harvard ahead, 50-41.

Their Crimsons lead eventually ballooned to 60-49 when Curry delivered a highlight reel dunk for the fans, and senior Keith Wright, (10 points, eight rebounds) knocked down a critical jump shot at 3:43 in the second half.

“I didn’t even know I dunked it to be honest with you,” said Curry. “I was just going for it. Just drove and then it happened.”

Junior Kyle Casey then clinched the team’s 10th victory at Lavietes Pavilion with a powerful dunk a few minutes afterward to secure Harvard’s 23rd victory of the season, which matches their win total from last season.

“I’m glad that we were able to take care of business,” said Curry. “We knew this was going to be a tough two-games this weekend, so I’m glad that we were able to buckle down, and get the two w’s.”

Harvard’s win on Saturday also marks their 27th consecutive home win, which is the second longest streak in the country.

“We’re a deep team, and one thing coach says to us every so often is it’s amazing what we can accomplish because no one cares who gets the credit,” said Wright.

The Crimson will return to their home gymnasium next week when they face Princeton on Friday, Feb. 24.

Feb 17 2012

Catching Up With Jim O’Brien (Emerson College Men’s Basketball)

Jim O'Brien's Emerson College Lions capped off their 2011-12 campaign with their seven win against Wheelock College on Thursday! (Photo Credit: Emerson College)

By NoontimeSports.com 

Following Thursday’s contest against Wheelock College, Noontime Sports caught up with first-year Emerson College men’s basketball coach Jim O’Brien to discuss the past season, and what he enjoyed most about Division III college basketball.

You’ve talked with other media outlets about the improved play of Emerson’s men’s basketball team. The Lions finished the season with seven wins, however, excluding victories and defeats, what exactly happened this year with this particular squad? How much did you help them, and how did they respond?

“We’ve won six out of our last eight [games], and the thing I’m finding at the Division III level is if you’re a new coach, you really are a little bit behind the eight ball because you get no time until your very first day of practice to figure out how good your team is or what the talent level is of each individual player. There’s no individual workouts, you’re not in the gym with them, you can’t watch them play, so basically besides watching a couple of tapes, I got to find out at first hand the talent of our guys individually [on the] first day of practice. So, you think you’re going to go in with a certain way to play, and then all of a sudden you find out that’s not going to work because you can’t do some of the things that you want to do. And so, it’s been really hard on these kids, but they have responded tremendously. They have a new coach, it’s a new system, new terminology, and we’re not as talented as some of the teams that we played early, but these guys have really stayed with this thing all year long, and not once did they give me a hard time with anything. [Although] the thing that I’m most disappointed in is that I’m not going to have more of a chance to coach these kids a little bit longer because we truly have gotten better, and coming together at the right time. There’s just no games left [because our season ended on Thursday with a win against Wheelock College].”

What’d you enjoy most about coaching a Division III basketball team?

“I don’t need the TV, I don’t need the bright lights, I don’t need 20,000 people at the games, I don’t need any of that stuff [because] I’ve kind of been there, and done that. I was out of [the NCAA] for seven years, and when I was helping the Boston Scholar Athlete Program, I got involved with the public schools in the city. I was going to all their practices, [which was] about 13 schools, boys and girls, working with the coaches, and working with the kids. [From this experience], it dawned on me that this is what I missed the most, just being in the gym with a group of kids, and so I really have enjoyed going to practice every single day. The games are the games, it’s the way that is, but the fun part for me is to get connected with a group of kids that want to be coached, that have been exceptionally respectful, and they really wanted to try and get something done. I’m just a little bit sad that I wasn’t able to do a better job with allowing the seniors to finish their careers on a little more of a positive note.”

Why did you decide to help the Boston Public School’s high school basketball teams? What’s your experience been like working with these young men and women?

“I just really felt that it was important to try to just go help where I think I’m capable of helping. You just can’t say, ‘I’m going to go volunteer’ and do something that you have no level of what you’re trying to help. So, there was an article in the Boston Globe a couple of years ago, I think it was a five-part series about all the things that are troubling the BPS, so I just made a phone call and said that I’m around, I have all the time in the world if you think there’s anything I can do to help, I’m happy to do it. I’m grateful that they jumped on it, and they said [that] within two days we’ve got all these things that we’d like you to think about doing, and it really was good. My eyes of have been open tremendously because the public school coaches don’t have a whole lot, and all the guys on TV are making all the money, and all the guys with all the notoriety, which I was once, and I understand that, but the guys that are in the trenches are the high school coaches in the inner cities that don’t have a whole lot, and really have their hands full. I really tip my cap to all of those coaches for all the hard work that they’ve put in on very trying circumstances.”

Now that you’ve completed one year with Emerson, what’re you future plans? Are you interested in returning to coach the Lions next season?

“I’m happy to do this at Emerson. I live in the Back Bay, and part of the appeal for me is being able to walk to work every day. It’s a 15-minute walk and I tease my friends that I have the nicest walking commute in America. I either walk down Newbury Street or through the Public Garden, and then I’m at Emerson and I’m committed to trying to help them get the program back. I have no interest in coaching any place else. I’m committed to living in Boston. It’s a great school academically, and I suspect that if I’m not going to be coaching Emerson that I won’t be coaching.”

Finally, what’re your thoughts on former Harvard basketball standout Jeremy Lin?

“It speaks volumes for where Harvard. Here’s a kid with that education doing all of this stuff and I bet you two or three years ago if you would have asked Jeremy Lin how do you think you’re going to be making a name for yourself? Is it going to be using your Harvard degree or playing in the NBA? I think he would have obviously gone with the Harvard connection, but then you look at what [Ryan Fitzpatrick] has done in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills, and I think it’s a credit to all the coaches at Harvard, and what they stand for, and where they are currently. Tommy Amaker is a personal friend. I like Tommy a lot, so I’m really happy for their program. [Also], I’m exceptionally happy with what he’s doing there, and I think it’s a great story. It’s all that it’s supposed to be good in athletics, and hopefully Lin is as good as kid as he appears because that [would make it] a home run.”

Feb 3 2012

Harvard Hands Cornell 10th Straight Road Loss

Photo Credit: ECACHockey.com

By NoontimeSports.com

CAMBRIDGE, MA – Friday’s win against Cornell University marked Harvard University’s 19th overall victory, and fifth conference win of the season. As for the Big Red, they’re now 7-12 overall, and 0-10 on the road.

Yet, why have they struggled in opposing gymnasiums?

“It’s hard for anybody to win on the road,” said head coach Bill Courtney, who answered the question bluntly. “To be honest, if you look at the teams we’ve played, a lot of them are in the top of their divisions.”

The head coach continued by saying, “We played Stony Brook on the road, they’re first place in American East, we played an ACC team, we’ve played two Big 10 teams, so it’s hard to beat good teams on the road.”

The Big Red exhibited signs of why they’ve struggled on the road this year by finishing the game 20-of-53 from the field. Cornell sank 6-of-21 three-pointers, and were also out rebounded, 34-30. Yet, they did manage to force Harvard to turn the ball over 16 times. Also, Cornell was able to record 10 fast break points, but only three second chance opportunities on offense.

“They really are marksman out there, and we had guys that we couldn’t leave and they did a great job of screening for those particular players and making it difficult for our guys to guard [them],” said Harvard head coach Tommy Amaker. “I thought they did some things harder and better in the second half.”

Feb 3 2012

Mass College Hoops Recap: No. 23 Harvard 71, Cornell 60

By Matt Noonan 

CAMBRIDGE, MA – In case you didn’t know, the Harvard University men’s basketball team has now won 19 games this season, and is 5-0 in the Ivy League. They’re also ranked 23rd in the nation, but against Cornell University, they appeared beatable and vulnerable.

The Big Red forced the Crimson to play careless-free basketball for a majority of Friday’s contest at Lavietes Pavilion, as Harvard finished the game with 16 turnovers, eight offensive rebounds, and 26 missed shots.

Yet, those particular mistakes didn’t faze Tommy Amaker’s squad, who maneuvered a way past Cornell, 71-60.

“I just felt like we were better than what we were showing,” said a frustrated Amaker. “I was perplexed and disappointed in how we came out of the half, and that’s how we played. And again, I’m not taking anything away from Cornell, they’re doing outstanding things, but I just thought that we were better than that and I was disappointed in how we came out and handled the ball.”

Following the opening tip, both squads played back and fourth basketball for roughly six minutes until Harvard freshman Jonah Travis sank his second free throw to give the Crimson a 10-9 advantage.

“We were able to get some stops at times during the game, but we didn’t take advantage of those opportunities offensively,” said Cornell head coach Bill Courtney, when asked to discuss the lackluster play of both squads in the first half.

The Crimson never relinquished their lead, as it ballooned to 30-18, thanks to junior Kyle Casey, (13 points, six rebounds) and sophomore Laurent Rivard, (16 points) who finished the first half with two trifectas and three free throws.

Cornell’s offense attempted to chip away at the deficit before halftime, but only mustered six points before entering their locker room trailing Harvard, 38-24.

Once the second half began, the Big Red appeared rejuvenated and focused, as senior Drew Ferry sank a three-pointer on their first offensive possession before junior Jonathan Gray stripped the ball from Casey, and raced down court for a layup, which cut the lead to 38-29.

“I thought they did some things harder and better in the second half, but certainly our defense is better than what we displayed in the last 20 minutes,” said Amaker.

Harvard answered literally 40 seconds later when Wright recorded a powerful dunk that electrified his offense to go on a 19-11 run.

Junior Christian Webster put the game out of reach when he knocked down a three-pointer with 5:57 remaining in the second half, which preserved Harvard’s perfect record at home.

“We knew you’re not going to hold a team like [Harvard] that’s good, [and] you’re not going to continuing to keep stopping [them]. We had our chance, and we kind of didn’t take advantage of it,” said Courtney.

Despite the loss, Cornell’s freshman Shonn Miller recorded his 100th defensive rebound, while senior Chris Wroblewski earned his 101st assist of the season.

Harvard will return to the court on Saturday when they host Columbia, while Cornell will head to Dartmouth; both games are slated for a 7:00pm tip-off.

“We have to get better. I’m not quite sure what that could be right now for us with a home game, and kind of where we are, and [I'm] hopeful that we can get ready to go for tomorrow,” said Amaker.

Jan 26 2012

Catching Up With BU, Harvard and Northeastern Men’s Hoops

By Brian Willwerth 

It’s time for our weekly look at the men’s basketball teams at Harvard University, Boston University and Northeastern University.

16-2. That’s what Tommy Amaker’s record is at Harvard this season.

The Crimson beat Dartmouth last Saturday to extend their winning streak to four games. They’re tied atop the Ivy League standings with Yale and Penn, with a big road test against the Bulldogs coming up on Friday night. The stats don’t lie for Harvard. The Crimson are ranked either 1st or 2nd in the Ivy League in just about every team category: points per game, team defense, free throw percentage, field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, the list goes on and on. As long as Harvard doesn’t stumble, I think they deserve to be in the NCAA tournament.

Moving to Commonwealth Ave., the Terriers are red-hot right now. They’ve won seven in a row to move into a tie for first place atop the America East.  The latest victory: a 35-point blowout victory over UMBC Tuesday night at The Roof.

It’s easy to look at the 83 points and say the offense is clicking, which it is. But the defense is the reason BU is on a roll. During their seven-game streak, the Terriers have allowed more than 60 points only once, (against Maine on 1/11). Offensively, senior Darryl Partin continues to impress.  After his 17-point performance Tuesday night against the Retrievers, he’s moved into the top-20 in scoring in the country as of Thursday. He’s ranked #16, and averaging just under 20 ppg.

Next up for BU: a big, nationally-televised game Friday night against Stony Brook. The Terriers won the first meeting at home; can they do it again on the Seawolves’ home court?

After dropping back-to-back road games to Drexel and Old Dominion, Northeastern appeared to be heading to its third straight defeat Wednesday night. But the Huskies came back from a five-point deficit in the final 30 seconds against Delaware, and won it on Joel Smith’s bucket with one second left on the clock.

It’s the second time this season Smith has beaten the Buzzer; his last-second shot sank Vermont on December 30th.  NU is now 6-4 in the CAA. Still, the Huskies have fallen off the pace a bit in the conference because of the previous two losses. They’re now in the middle of the pack. Their next game is against Hofstra on Saturday afternoon at Matthews Arena.

Dec 31 2011

No. 23 Harvard Rallies Past St. Joes, 74-69

By Matt Noonan 

CAMBRIDGE, MA – Ending the calendar year with a victory was certainly something the Harvard University’s men’s basketball team wanted to do, as they rallied to beat St. Joe’s on Saturday afternoon, 74-69.

“What a gutsy win by our team against an outstanding basketball team,” said Harvard University head coach Tommy Amaker. “I told our kids that this is a preview of maybe something we’ll see a lot of [for the remainder of the season].”

The victory wasn’t exactly the prettiest, especially since Harvard relinquished a four point lead early in the first half, and allowed the Hawks to tally an 11-5 run, which eventually ballooned to a 14 point lead.

St. Joe’s finished the first 20-minute period by recording 19-of-24 shots from the field, which contained six three-pointers by sophomores C.J. Aiken and Langston Galloway, and junior Carl Jones, (22 points, five assists, and three rebounds).

“They’re an explosive offensive team,” said Amaker. “They’re extremely quick. They’re shifty with the ball, they’re crafty off the bounce, but then they obviously can make shots off the pass, and off the bounce, [as well as] get to the basket, [too]. They’re a handful. ”

Harvard recovered from their lackluster start, and ended the half by taking advantage of a few St. Joe’s miscues, a missed free throw by Galloway and travel by Aiken, which set up a dramatic three-point basket by senior co-captain Oliver McNally as the buzzer sounded.

The Crimson built off their dramatic first half ending immediately once the second half started, as junior Kyle Casey, (26 points, 10 rebounds), sparked a second half rally, which featured Harvard outscoring St. Joe’s, 36-21.

 

“Kyle was tremendous,” said Amaker. “He carried us offensively and was a presence for us, and he has the athleticism to make plays against a team like [St. Joe’s, who’s] very athletic. And we needed that.”

Casey recorded 17 points and seven rebounds in the second half, but his biggest moment of the contest came with two minutes remaining, as he secured a critical defensive rebound, which set up Curry’s go-ahead lay-up to secure Harvard’s second lead of the game, and eventually their 12th win.

“We’re a veteran team, and we’ve been in situations like that before,” said Casey, when asked to describe his team’s composure. “We knew that we had to really dig in, and just kind of grind this one out, and I think that’s what we do.”

Harvard will have very little time to enjoy this exciting victory, as they’ll head to Fordham on Tuesday, Jan. 3 for 7:00pm tip-off, while St. Joe’s will head to Duquesne on Wednesday, Jan. 4.

GAME NOTES:

* The Crimson have won 21 straight games at home, which is the ninth longest streak in the country

* Saturday’s meeting marked the second time the Crimson and Hawks met on a basketball court, and now, the series is tied, 1-1. The Hawks last beat the Crimson during the ’98-’99 season, 87-69. Harvard is now 19-36 against current Atlantic-10 teams.

* Finally, Harvard’s 12th victory of the season marked their 1,001st program win.

Dec 22 2011

No. 25 Harvard Picks Up 10th Win Against Florida Atlantic, 61-53

By Matt Noonan 

CAMBRIDGE, MA – The Harvard University men’s basketball team may have picked up their 10th win of the season on Thursday, but it wasn’t exactly the prettiest performance by a nationally ranked team.

The Crimson used two late runs in both halves to secure a 63-51 victory, which head coach Tommy Amaker explained is something Harvard shouldn’t rely on for future success.

“We’re not going to be able to get runs on every team [because] we’re going to be in some tough, tight games,” said Amaker.

“We’re going to be a target, and people are going to play incredibly hard against us, and it’s going to be tough for us, so we knew that and we’re not going to have runs all the time.”

Harvard won the tip, but struggled to gain any sort of momentum.

Points, rebounds and assists by junior Kyle Casey, senior Keith Wright, (12 points, 11 rebounds, and one block) and junior Brandyn Curry, (12 points, seven assists, and four steals) helped, but the Crimson’s 10 turnovers and eight missed shots allowed the Owls to keep pace for a majority of the first period.

However, junior Christian Webber sank two critical free throws, and one three-pointer during the final few minutes, which gave the men sporting white and maroon a six point lead at intermission.

“I thought we had some turnovers that were silly,” said Amaker. “We weren’t tougher or stronger with the ball when we needed to be at various times.”

FAU came out firing in the second half, as junior Raymond Taylor led his squad with two critical three-pointers, and a few jump shots that provided the necessary spark for the Owls on offense and defense.

“I don’t think anybody else in the NCAA is like him [because] those hands are so quick, [and he’s] such a good scorer and passer,” said Curry, when asked to describe the play of Taylor.

Both teams then spent the remainder of the final period swapping leads until Wright registered a powerful dunk, which electrified his teammates and his fans.

“[Coach Amaker] talked to us at halftime, specifically [senior Oliver McNally and I], about leadership, and making sure our [team] believed that we could win. We’re a good team, so it was basically Oliver and I [who helped our team regain the lead for good],” said Wright.

The Crimson then tallied an additional 10 more points to secure the victory, and hand FAU their eighth loss of the season.

“Every game is going to be a big game for anybody that we’re going to play, so we just have to go into those games expecting to give those teams best shot, and play like that,” said Wright.

“It’s great to see our kids come through in those types of moments, as we’ve done earlier in the year so far,” said Amaker.

Harvard will return to the court next Thursday, (Dec. 29), when they travel to Boston College, while Florida Atlantic will head home to face Siena.