Luckily for Harvard, the Eagles will likely be without Sanders, their third-leading scorer from a year ago, who suffered a high ankle sprain in the team’s third game. After the weekend’s contest against Miami, Sanders told Goodman that he did not expect to return until the Eagles’ game against Rhode Island on Sunday. Nonetheless, the Crimson have been preparing as if Sanders will be in the lineup.

For Harvard to emerge victorious from tonight’s game, the Crimson will need to receive offensive production both Lin and his supporting cast. When Harvard defeated Boston College a season ago, Lin put up an impressive stat line of 27 points, eight assists, and six steals, but two other players contributed double-digit scoring nights as well, including guard Oliver McNally—now a sophomore—who dropped 17 points.

In the Crimson’s latest loss to UConn, McNally was largely absent, scoring zero points on zero-for-six shooting while freshmen wingmen Christian Webster and Dee Giger uncharacteristically shot a combined one-for-seven from behind the arc.

“I think it’s important that we have to hit on a few if not all cylinders to win a game like that,” Amaker said. “[Lin] was sensational but it was hard to find multiple guys giving us the kind of production we need to get to pull a game like that out.”

Although a second option failed to emerge in the Crimson’s previous matchup, the team is filled with potential suitors for the role. Seven players this season have scored in double figures, and Harvard will be hoping that two or three of them can hit shots and help the Crimson return to Cambridge with a major victory.

—Staff writer Martin Kessler can be reached at martin.kessler@college.harvard.edu.