In overtime, Penn held a lead at times, but the Crimson scored four of the last five points, mostly from Robert Hinton’s free throws. Penn missed some contested shots on its last possession, and Harvard secured the narrow victory.
Now, Penn stands at 7-17 overall and 3-8 in Ivy League play, while Harvard improves to 10-14 overall and 5-6 in the Ivy League, keeping their tournament hopes alive.
Key Moments
– This was the first overtime game for Penn since December 23 of last season and marked the 22nd during coach Steve Donahue’s tenure.
– The Quakers hit 32 field goals, matching their season high.
– Penn dominated points in the paint with a 58-28 advantage over Harvard.
– With a total of 36 rebounds, Penn outperformed Harvard, who had 32. They also led in second-chance points, 10-4.
– The comeback matched their biggest of the season, previously achieved against NJIT.
Key performances came from several players:
– Senior Nick Spinoso led the team with 24 points, shooting 11 of 17 from the field and grabbing eight rebounds.
– Sophomore Sam Brown contributed 19 points, with 12 of those coming in the second half.
– Augustus Gerhart set a personal best with 12 points.
– Junior Ethan Roberts extended his scoring streak to 17 games with 11 points.
For Harvard, Hinton led with 22 points, while four other players scored in double figures, including Thomas Batties II with 15 points.
How It All Unfolded
The game began poorly for Penn, falling behind 21-4 within the first eight minutes. They struggled but managed to chip away at the Harvard lead, which was 12 points at halftime. An early three-pointer by Nelson in the second half extended Harvard’s lead to 43-28.
But Penn surged back. Spinoso and Roberts helped close the gap, and Brown’s shooting brought them within five points. They ultimately tied the game at 58-58 after a series of impressive plays including a three-point play by Gerhart.
With the game tied, Penn took a brief lead, prompting Harvard to fight back. The closing moments were tense, featuring missed free throws, desperate defensive plays, and a dramatic last-second three-pointer from Nelson, which ultimately saved the game for the Crimson.
In the overtime period, both teams exchanged leads. Hinton’s crucial free throws put Harvard ahead, and despite Penn’s attempts, they couldn’t finalize a last-minute shot, leading to their defeat.
What’s Next
Penn’s next three games are on the road, starting with Cornell on February 28th at 7 PM.
Stay up to date with Penn men’s basketball by following them on social media or visiting PennAthletics.com.
