Pictured: Kyle Casey had 27 points as the Crimson
downed Santa Clara, 74-66
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Behind its vaunted
freshman class and homecoming guards Jeremy Lin and Oliver McNally,
Harvard men's basketball defeated Santa Clara, 74-66, Monday night
at the Leavey Center.
Harvard improves to 11-3 overall, extending its own record for
nonleague wins in a season. Santa Clara sees its record dip to 8-9.
Postgame Videos:
Much was made about the Bay Area homecoming of star guards Lin
and McNally and a pro-Harvard crowd jammed Santa Clara's gym
with its biggest nonconference ever (4,700). It wasn't all about
Lin however, despite an outstanding game with nine assists and
three steals.
Harvard freshmen accounted for 53 points, led by Kyle Casey who
poured home 27 points to mark his third-straight game with a career
high in scoring to go with a game-high eight rebounds. Christian
Webster added 15 points and Dee Giger 10. Lin involved his
teammates early and often, and combined his nine assists with five
for McNally who also added eight points. Lin also dished out five
passes that directly led to Harvard players going to the free throw
line.
Harvard sophomores added 13 points as upperclassmen scoring just
eight points in the game (Lin six, Doug Miller two).
Using impressive ball movement, Harvard went to the bonus at
10:29 with Casey doing damage on the floor. Leading 47-40 lead, Lin
drove the lane and kicked out to Giger who was true from the wing
for a 50-40 margin as the Crimson never looked back. Still no
player had taken more than five shots and Giger struck again on the
next possession for an 11-point lead. Webster followed
another triple as Harvard stayed hot from deep before Giger drove
the lane for two more and a 58-45 lead with seven minutes left.
With 5:48 left and the shot clock winding down, Casey, the
reigning Ivy League rookie of the week, drained a crucial triple
from the wing for a 61-46 advantage. After getting a stop, Lin
juked defender and soared through the lane for two more points.
Santa Clara did get within 67-60 with under two minutes but Lin
drew a charge in the lane against Robert Smith with 1:19 as the
Crimson endured.
Harvard was 25-for-37 from the free throw line in the game with
Casey converting 13-of-16 himself. The Crimson also shot 52 percent
from the floor
Despite 11 first half turnovers, Harvard claimed a 32-26
halftime lead thanks to 13 points from Casey, six assists, three
steals and two blocks from Lin and seven rebounds from Keith
Wright.
Lin had two steals and two assists in the first three minutes of
play and added a third assist on a triple from McNally to make it
9-7 in favor of Harvard at the first media timeout.
A backdoor cut and layin from Lin made it 17-11 but the Crimson
went scoreless for 5.5 minutes to allow SC back into it before
Giger made a layup for a 19-17 score at 7:39.
Lin's fifth assist of the half was a court-length outlet to
Casey who stuffed home a dunk for a 21-19 lead with seven minutes
left. Lin was then fouled after picking up his third steal with
3:55 left and his two free throws made it 27-22. A beautiful
crossover dribble by Lin and dish underneath to Webster for his
sixth helper made it 29-24 before Trasolini connected for two
straight occasions to buoy SC. Shortly before the half, Casey
drained a long ball for the 32-26 lead going into the locker
room.
Marc Trasolini matched Casey with 13 first half points but SC
was hurt by 6-for-12 free throw shooting in the opening half.
Trasolini led SC with 220 points on the night (7-8 FG).
The Crimson is back in action on Saturday with its Ivy League
opener at home against Dartmouth
