In the most important game of the Ivy League season, it took 17 minutes for either team to really gain an edge in a back-and-forth, first half. With some of the stars of both teams noticeably struggling, it was sophomore guard Laurent Rivard and freshmen guard Wesley Saunders who gave the Crimson the edge.
Harvard takes a 30-24 lead into the break over Pennsylvania on Senior Night between the top two teams in the Ivy League standings. Rivard leads all players with eight points and Saunders added six of the Crimson's 10 points off the bench in the first half.
The Crimson were able to take the six-point lead despite having to sit leading scorers and starting forwards Keith Wright and Kyle Casey for eight minutes each in the first half. Wright, one of the team's three seniors, was subbed out quickly twice in the first half and looked off his game and Casey picked up two fouls.
Pennsylvania was led by by senior guard Zach Rosen and sophomore guard Miles Cartwright who both finished with six points. Rosen knocked down just 2-of-6 shots for the Quakers but did add two of the team's seven rebounds.
Harvard shot 58.8 (10-of-17) percent from the field and hit 8-of-10 free throws, while the Quakers knocked down 8-of-19 (42.1 percent) of their shots and 85.7 percent (6-of-7) free throws.
The Crimson held a 30-22 lead late with under five second to play in the half, before Cartwright took the ball the length of the floor and hit a layup just before the buzzer sounded.