CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Harvard returns from final exams to play host to Holy Cross on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET (ESPN+). The non-conference clash is the Crimson's first since a 10-point home victory over Babson on Dec. 6, and represents the second contest of a three-game homestand.

What to Know

- Harvard rebounded from its second consecutive loss -- a 10-point defeat at UMass -- by rallying past Babson, 74-64. The win improved the Crimson's record to 15-3 in its last 18 games following a loss.

- Noah Kirkwood posted his second double-double of the season with 15 points and a team-best 10 rebounds vs. Babson. The senior also led all players with four steals, marking his sixth straight multi-steal effort (3.0 spg). Through Dec. 14 games, Kirkwood leads the Ivy League in steals (2.8 spg).

- Idan Tretout has enjoyed back-to-back career performances in scoring and rebounding. After posting 14 points and five boards at UMass, the junior finished with 16 points to go with six rebounds vs. Babson. Tretout enters the Holy Cross game averaging 15.0 points and 5.5 rebounds over his last two outings.

- Luka Sakota is coming off a 13-point, 4-assist showing vs. Babson, leading the team in the assist category (shared with Denham Wojcik)for the fourth time this season. The senior has reached double figures in scoring six times in 2021-22 and enters the Holy Cross contest having made at least one three-pointer in nine straight games (20-46; .435).

- Chris Ledlum continued to show why he is one of the top players in the Ivy League with his 13 points and six boards in just 20 minutes vs. Babson. The junior has scored in double figures nine times, led the team in scoring four times (team best) and led the team in rebounding eight times (team best). Through Dec. 14 games, Ledlum leads the Ivy in rebounds (8.9), while ranking in the top five in double-doubles (4; 2nd), steals (1.8; 2nd), scoring (16.6; 3rd), free-throw percentage (.714; 3rd) and field-goal percentage (.459; 5th).

- Louis Lesmond, who has started the last two games (8.5 ppg, 30.5 mpg), is tied for second on the team in treys (17; Kirkwood) after knocking in a pair vs. Babson. The first-year, who has made multiple threes in five consecutive outings, finished with eight points, three rebounds, one assist and zero turnovers in 25 minutes against the Beavers.

- Harvard enters the Holy Cross contest having matched its 10-game start from the 2019-20 season. That team went on to win 21 games, which was the fifth-highest total in school history. A victory over the Crusaders would equal the '19-20 squad's 11-game start.

- The Crimson has historically played well in its first game back from finals, having won five straight and eight of its last nine. The one blemish occurred on Dec. 21, 2014, at Virginia.

- Harvard is looking to continue its stellar play against Massachusetts schools. Since the start of the 2018-19 season, the Crimson is 9-3 against Bay State programs (46-19 during Amaker era; 3-1 this season).

- Harvard and Holy Cross are meeting for the 73rd time and for the 45th consecutive season. The Crusaders own a 44-28 advantage, but the Crimson have won the last two meetings by an average of 9.5 points, including the 2019-20 contest at Hart Center in Worcester.

- The last time the Crimson and Crusaders shared the floor, Harvard emerged with an 82-74 road win on Nov. 22, 2019. Only three members of this season's team saw action that night. Kirkwood finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists in 31 minutes. Ledlum came off the bench to contribute eight points and seven boards in 20 minutes. Mason Forbes, a senior forward who has not seen action this season due to injury, meanwhile, added two points and one steal in 13 minutes.

At the Helm

Tommy Amaker, The Thomas G. Stemberg '71 Family Endowed Coach for Harvard Men's Basketball, is in his 15th season at Harvard. He is the winningest coach in Crimson history with 257 victories and has led the program to seven Ivy League titles and eight postseason appearances.

Up Next

The Crimson plays host to Howard on Tuesday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Tickets are available at tickets.gocrimson.com.