Post-Game Harvard Stories

[Dane Pound]

A lump of coal for Danes-TU

 

Crimson Stuns America East Favorite Albany, 61-48

Harvard Improves To 7-3

 

Albany, N.Y. (December 17, 2005)-- A shorthanded Harvard basketball team stepped into the Recreation Center in Albany, N.Y. on Saturday and stunned pre-season America East Conference favorite UAlbany by a score of 61-48.

 

After a crisp first half that saw the Crimson take a 10-point lead, Harvard connected on eight of its first nine attempts in the second stanza. The Crimson extended its lead to 18 on two occasions, both on 3-pointers from Brad Unger as a silent UAlbany crowd of 2,147 looked on.

 

Albany, which was playing its first game in a week, would only come within 13 points in the closing minute as the Crimson shot 67 percent from the floor in the second (14-21) in winning its second straight game to improve to 7-3 on the season.

 

"This has to be one of the best moments for these kids," said Head Coach Frank Sullivan, whose Crimson was playing without seven-footer Brian Cusworth and junior shooting guard Jim Goffredo. "We were just focused on getting the job done... nothing fazed the players."

 

Drew Housman sparked Harvard in the first half with 11 points en route to 15 for the game (7-12 FG) to go along with five assists, three steals and a career-high seven rebounds.

 

"I was so impressed with Drew," continued Sullivan. "There's a reason Albany was picked to win the league but he didn't let the pressure get to him, and his play gave everyone else confidence on the team."

 

Housman was aided by three other Harvard players in double figures. Matt Stehle did a little bit of everything with 17 points (8-12 FG), and three assists, Michael Beal followed with 11 points (4-6 FG) and six rebounds, and Brad Unger had a career-best 11 points with those two 3-pointers and 4-of-6 shooting overall.

 

Harvard committed just two turnovers in the first half against an up-tempo Albany defense, enabling the Crimson to get a lead at the break.

 

Albany was led by Lucious Jordan's 16 points (7-12 FG). Fellow pre-season all-conference team member Jamar Wilson added 11 points with each guard pulling down six rebounds.

 

The game got off to a sluggish start for both teams with Albany holding an 13-11 lead at the midway point of the first. The Great Danes overcame six turnovers in the opening minutes with the help of Harvard's 3-16 shooting start.

 

With Albany leading 13-9, Harvard rattled off a 19-2 run keyed by a pair of 3-pointers in conversion, and the mounting foul trouble of UA which was whistled for 11 fouls in the opening half.

 

The Great Danes finally ended the spurt on a jumper from Lucious Jordan with 2:51 to go in the opening half. Still, Harvard took a 31-21 lead into the half thanks to 12 UA turnovers and 11 points from Housman who drained 5 of 7 shots with four assists ion the opening period.