Moundou-Missi scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds versus FAU (Gil Talbot).

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard men's basketball team overwhelmed Florida Atlantic Thursday night in a 71-49 victory at Lavietes Pavilion.

Wesley Saunders turned in a game-high 19 points, marking the third straight game he has led the team in scoring. Saunders shot 7-of-11 from the floor and was 5-of-5 from the line, and also registered four rebounds and a game-high six assists.

Steve Moundou-Missi contributed 14 points, six rebounds and three blocks while Evan Cummins came one-point shy of his first career double-double with nine points and 10 boards. Harvard (2-1) shot 51.9 percent (28-25) from the field, was 14-of-18 at the line and outrebounded FAU (1-2) 37-23.

Justin Massey led the Owls with 17 points as Marquan Botley contributed 12.

Agunwa Okolie jumped a passing lane and went the other way for a breakaway layup to begin the game, but FAU responded with an 11-2 run to open an 11-4 advantage. Harvard clamped down on defense, however, outscoring the Owls 17-0 over the next seven-plus minutes to take a 21-11 margin. The Crimson defense held FAU to 0-of-9 shooting and forced three turnovers during the stretch, with Saunders providing seven of the 17 points on offense.

Harvard continued to control the action and extended its lead to 38-20 at the break, closing the first half on a 34-9 run over the final 14:37. Cummins totaled nine points and five rebounds at the break, with Moundou-Missi adding eight points on 4-of-6 shooting. Saunders, meanwhile, totaled seven points, three rebounds and three assists, and turned in a highlight reel slam over 6-9 Justin Raffington.

The teams traded baskets early in the second half with Harvard's lead reaching 44-23 on a Saunders layup. A jumper by Saunders in the lane maintained a 20-point margin, 55-35, but FAU began to chip away and pulled within 56-43 on a breakaway dunk. The Crimson answered right back, however, with Andre Chatfield's layup in transition making it a 62-43 game.

Corbin Miller knocked down the team's only 3-pointer for a 69-46 margin, and Matt Fraschilla's layup capped off the scoring.

Game Notes: Harvard improved to 51-3 (.944) at home since the start of the 2010-11 season … Wesley Saunders led Harvard with 19 points, marking the third straight game he has led the team in scoring ...  Saunders has also led the team in assists twice and in rebounding twice … Evan Cummins grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds and came one point shy of his first career double-double … After trailing 11-4, Harvard closed the first half on a 34-9 run (14:37) to take a 38-20 lead into the break.