NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Senior guard/forward
Chris Ledlum and senior guard
Idan Tretout each scored 15 points with Ledlum adding 14 rebounds, and the Crimson trimmed a 10-point deficit with under three minutes to play down to two points before Harvard University men's basketball fell at Yale University, 58-54, on Saturday night at the John J. Lee Amphitheater inside Payne Whitney Gymnasium.
Closing out its first Ivy League back-to-back of the season as well as a six-game road swing, the Crimson (10-7, 1-2 Ivy) faced a 56-46 deficit with under three minutes to play before pulling within 56-54 and gaining possession of the ball prior to the Bulldogs (11-5, 1-2 Ivy) holding on for the win.
With the score at 56-46 with less than three minutes to go, Ledlum hit a 3-pointer before junior guard
Sam Silverstein and Tretout each scored baskets following Yale turnovers to trim the margin to 56-54 with 25 seconds left. After Yale missed the front end of a one-and-one, the Crimson gained possession before a shot attempt from Tretout did not fall, and the hosts made their next two free throws.
The Crimson split the back-to-back weekend behind a 70-68 (OT) win at Brown on Friday night.
Harvard Highlights
- Senior guard/forward Chris Ledlum posted his fifth double-double of the season and third in his last four games behind 15 points and a game-high 14 rebounds alongside a game-best four assists and two steals. He scored in double figures for the 16th time out of 17 games this season. He led the Crimson in scoring for the 14th time, in rebounding for the 13th time, and in assists for the first time this year.
- Senior guard Idan Tretout tallied 15 points, five rebounds, and two assists, while making 3-of-8 shots from 3-point distance. He scored in double figures for the fourth time this season and led the team in scoring for the first time this year. He tied his career high with three made 3-pointers.
- Sophomore guard Evan Nelson posted seven points and two steals, and first-year forward Chisom Okpara netted seven points, making 2-of-4 triples. Senior guard Luka Sakota chipped in a game-high four assists, and junior forward Justice Ajogbor blocked a game-best two shots.
- As a team, Harvard made 9-of-11 free throws (81.8 percent), shooting above 80 percent for the second time this year.
Gallery: (1-7-2023) Men's Basketball at Yale
How It Happened
- Harvard opened the game with an 11-7 lead at the 15:10 mark of the first half behind an 8-0 run. In the opening stretch, Tretout hit a pair of 3-pointers and Ledlum connected on a triple and a breakaway dunk.
- After Yale used a 7-0 run to pull ahead 14-11, Okpara knotted the score at 14-14 with a 3-pointer with 11:43 left in the half.
- Following a 9-2 stretch from the Bulldogs that put the hosts up 23-16 with 3:43 to go until halftime, Harvard responded with an 8-5 spurt to close the half, pulling within 28-24 at the break. Sakota made three free throws, Tretout sank a trey, and Ledlum added a pair of free throws during the stretch.
- After the Bulldogs built a 39-31 lead with 14:14 to play, the Crimson answered with eight straight points, knotting the score at 39-39 with 12:19 to play. Okpara hit a 3-pointer before Ledlum and Nelson each netted baskets during the streak.
- Yale countered with nine consecutive points to move ahead 48-39 with 8:19 remaining. The Bulldogs kept leads of 52-41 with 5:44 to go and 56-46 with 3:18 to play before the Crimson made its final rally.
- Facing a 10-point deficit with under three minutes to play, Harvard used an 8-0 run to pull within 56-54 with 25 seconds left. Ledlum started the run with a 3-pointer before Silverstein and Tretout each scored baskets with under 40 seconds to play following Yale turnovers.
- After the Bulldogs missed the front end of a one-and-one with 23 seconds left, the Crimson gained possession down two points, but a field goal attempt from Tretout with 14 seconds on the clock did not fall, and Yale made its proceeding two free throws.
Postgame Quotes
- "As usual, it was a hard-fought game between our team and their team. I was really proud of our team's effort of battling and fighting to give us a chance to be in the game late when we obviously shot the ball incredibly poorly, especially from three. Our effort was there. Their toughness coming off of last night's loss – you could see the difference in their play and sense of urgency. What a great game – a competitive game. Both teams fought hard to try to win." – Tommy Amaker, The Thomas G. Stemberg '71 Family Endowed Coach for Harvard Men's Basketball
Next Up
Harvard returns home to Lavietes Pavilion for the first time since Dec. 18 to host Columbia on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 1:00 p.m. (ESPN+) and Dartmouth on Monday, Jan. 16 at 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+) on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
