ITHACA, N.Y. -- Harvard scored the game's final seven points and overcame a double-digit deficit in the second half for the second straight season at Newman Arena to rally for a 77-71 victory over Cornell on Friday evening. The Crimson improved to 11-5 (3-0 Ivy), while the Big Red fell to 5-13 (1-2 Ivy).
Cornell shot 55 percent from the floor and spent most of the game north of 60 percent, but it scored just two points in the final five minutes as Harvard closed the contest on a 13-2 run to escape Ithaca with the victory. Junior
Wil Bathurst scored 13 points, grabbed five rebounds, dished four assists and collected four steals for Cornell to lead four double figure scorers, while senior
Robert Hatter and sophomore
Stone Gettings each had 11 points. Sophomore
Matt Morgan rounded out the group with 10 points and six boards. The Big Red held a 30-27 edge on the backboards and assisted on 18 of its 29 baskets, but turned the ball over 19 times and and hit just 6-of-13 free throws (46 percent).
Bryce Aiken had a game-high 21 points, while Corey Johnson (17 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals) and Justin Bassey (16 points, four rebounds, three steals) led the Crimson. Harvard shot 51 percent from the floor, including 54 percent after halftime. The Crimson turned Cornell's 19 turnovers into 22 points.
Cornell led by as many as 12 points in the second half, but a 15-4 Crimson made it a one-point game with 15:31 lef. Neither team led by more than two possessions the rest of the way as the lead was traded seven times over the final 10 minutes. The Big Red led with 73 seconds left by a 71-70 score after
Robert Hatter's tough driving layup, but the Crimson answered with a Justin Bassey 3-pointer on a great find from Bryce Aiken 22 seconds later. Chris Lewis blocked a
Matt Morgan layup attempt and Aiken nailed a jumper with eight ticks left to make it a 75-71 contest. The Crimson hit a pair of free throws with less than a second remaining to make up the final margin.
The Big Red shot 67 percent from the floor and was over 60 percent for the first 36 minutes before missing eight of its final nine shots. Cornell was crisp offensively throughout when it didn't turn the ball over, which it did 10 times in the first 20 minutes and nine times after the break.
A year ago, Cornell led by as many as 21 points in the second half to stun the Big Red, 76-74.
NOTES TO KNOW:
• The Big Red has had at least three double figure scorers in 16 of the team's first 18 contests.
• Cornell hit seven 3-pointers in the contest, its 790th consecutive game with at least one make (dating back to 1988).
• Sophomore
Matt Morgan's only 3-pointer of the game extended his streak of consecutive games with a trey to 18.
• The Big Red has at least 15 assists in 10 consecutive games, including six with at least 18.
• With 11 points, senior
Robert Hatter moved into 18th place on the school's career scoring list (1,115 points).
SUITS & SNEAKERS WEEK:
• The Cornell coaching staff was wearing sneakers along with its dress suits on Friday evening in support of Coaches vs. Cancer.
• It is part of a nationwide event that unites coaches across the country to raise awareness about the American Cancer Society's lifesaving mission, and promote the American Cancer Society as a place for help and support.
• In hundreds of games during the week, coaches have been wearing sneakers with their game attire as a visible reminder about the importance of nutrition and physical activity in reducing cancer risk.
• The special laces are in memory of Lacey Holsworth, an 8-year-old basketball fan who died of cancer.
• The American Cancer Society receives 85 percent of the proceeds from the campaign (funds restricted to pediatric cancer), and Princess Lacey's Legacy will receive 15 percent.
• Help
@AmericanCancer end cancer
shoecarnival.com/lacey
NEXT UP:
• The Big Red welcomes Dartmouth tomorrow at 6 p.m. Newman Arena.
• The game will tip at 6 p.m. and will be televised by the Ivy League Digital Network and simulcast on ESPN3.
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