Bulldogs Fall To Harvard 53-51 On Last Second Shot

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – After finishing with identical 11-3 records and splitting a pair of hard-fought games during the regular season, it was only fitting that Saturday's Ivy League playoff game between Yale and Harvard went down to the wire. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, it would end in heartbreaking fashion.

Steve Moundou-Missi's jumper with seven seconds left was the winning basket as the Crimson earned the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with a 53-51 victory.

Yale nearly tied it, but Javier Duren's driving layup narrowly rimmed out in the final seconds.

"I just tried to make a play," Duren said of the last sequence. "I thought it was in. It would have been hard to get a better look."

The 5,256 fans that packed the Palestra were treated to a classic. The atmosphere was electric from the opening tip as fans from both teams were loud.

Harvard led for 22 minutes, Yale had the advantage for 13 and the score was tied for five.

"It was a great basketball game," said James Jones, The Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of Men's Basketball. "Both teams fought hard. Harvard made one more play than we did."

Justin Sears led Yale with 13 points, while Duren added 12. Armani Cotton, Makai Mason and Greg Kelley each scored eight.

Wesley Saunders scored 18 of his game-high 22 points in the second half to pace Harvard.

At 22-10 overall, Yale's season isn't over. The Bulldogs should be in line to be one of 32 teams selected to the NIT when the pairings are announced on Sunday night.

Yale's 22 wins are the most since 1948-49.

"I told the team after the game that I couldn't be more proud of what they've accomplished," Jones said.

Harvard (22-7) scored the game's first eight points, but it didn't take long for the Bulldogs to get back in it. Kelley's three-pointer gave Yale a 12-11 lead midway through the first half. The teams traded baskets for the rest of the half, until Sears' late dunk sent Yale to the locker room in front 27-23.

Saunders went to work in the second half, scoring nine points during an 11-0 run that helped Harvard to a nine-point lead, 46-37, with 6:19 remaining.

Yale again mounted a comeback. Sears started it with a three-point play, and Cotton hit a big three-pointer that pulled the Bulldogs within five. A few minutes later Yale had the lead, 49-48, after a Mason short jumper in the lane.

Saunders, though, answered with a three-point play for the Crimson. Two Duren free throws with 55 seconds left tied it at 51, setting up the dramatic finish.

NOTES: The Bulldogs won the battle of the boards, outrebounding Harvard 32-26… Yale was 14-of-18 from the foul line, while the Crimson were just 8-of-16... Both teams were honored prior to the opening tip for sharing the Ivy League title.

Report filed by Tim Bennett (timothy.bennett@yale.edu), Yale Sports Publicity