“We know it’s a weapon of ours,” said McNally, who is currently third in the nation from the line, shooting 95.2 percent.

But despite having the third best percentage in the nation, McNally is not even the Crimson’s top free throw shooter.

That title goes to freshman Laurent Rivard, who has missed just one attempt all season and is shooting 97.2 percent from the line.

Last night, Rivard went a perfect six-for-six, sinking all of his attempts in the first half to keep Harvard in the game after the Eagles established an early lead.

“We’ve been an outstanding foul shooting team,” Amaker said. “I thought that kept us in it in the first half and then certainly allowed us to keep them at bay in the late game situation.”

SHORT BENCH

Entering last season, depth was supposed to be one of the Crimson’s strengths. But Harvard certainly didn’t rely on its depth to get the win last night, as only six players—McNally, Rivard, Wright, and sophomores Kyle Casey, Christian Webster, and Brandyn Curry—saw the court during the second half.

“We wanted to stick with the lineups and the guys that were able to help us tonight, because [BC] plays very small and they stretch you defensively,” Amaker said. “It wasn’t a night that we could go deep in the frontcourt. We just couldn’t afford that with the way that they spread it and shoot it and the fact that they go small.”

Amaker went to a four-guard lineup throughout the contest, playing Webster, McNally, Rivard, and Curry along with Wright or Casey.

Webster and Curry played 38 minutes apiece, with the latter going the entire second half without a breather.

“I think we’re in good shape,” McNally said. “I think we rely on each other to pick each other up and we work hard in practice, so in these types of games where coach does shorten the bench, it sort of pays off.”

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