Box Score Box Score (PDF)
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- No. 23 Harvard put the clamps down defensively in the first half and held on after halftime to knock off Cornell 71-60 on Friday evening at Lavietes Pavilion. The Crimson improved to 19-2 (5-0 Ivy), while the Big Red slipped to 7-12 (2-3 Ivy).
Johnathan Gray posted 14 points as the lone double figure scorer for the Big Red, while
Shonn Miller notched nine points, eight rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals in just 19 minutes of action.
Chris Wroblewski had nine points and three assists for Cornell. The Big Red shot just 38 percent from the floor for the game and hit on 29 percent from beyond the arc.
Laurent Rivard had a game-high 16 points to lead the Crimson, while Kyle Casey scored 13. Keith Wright (nine points, seven rebounds) and Steve Moundou-Missi each recorded nine points for the balanced Crimson attack. The home team held a decisive edge at the free throw line, connecting on 29-of-34 shots from the charity stripe while Cornell made 14-of-16.
The game was decided in the first half, as Harvard's defense limited the Big Red to 31 percent shooting and just 2-of-10 from 3-point range to send the Crimson into the break leading 38-24. The two teams played even basketball for the first eight minutes before Harvard slowly started to pull away. A three-point play by Rivard on the break put Harvard up 21-13 and capped an 8-2 run. The lead wouldn't get below seven the rest of the way.
The Big Red's effort was much improved in the second half, making a late run to get back within 11 after going down as many as 22 points. Cornell scored the first five points of the second half in just 28 seconds, getting a trey by
Drew Ferry, followed by a turnover and bucket by Gray to sice the deficit to 38-29 almost immediately. Another Harvard turnover put the Big Red back on the break, but Harvard's Oliver McNally stole the ball back and fed it ahead for a Keith Wright dunk to make it 40-29. Cornell wouldn't get back within single digits the rest of the way.
Milelr was outstanding in the second half against the defending Ivy champions, posting all nine points, grabbing five rebounds, blocking two shots and causing two steals in just 10 minutes of action before fouling out.
Cornell returns to action on Saturday at 7 p.m. when it visits Dartmouth's Leede Arena as the Big Red attempts to collect its first road win of the season.