Aside from converting layups and hitting threes with regularity, Harvard managed to score in nearly every way possible against BU. On one second-half possession, a Terrier defender cut freshman guard Rio Haskett’s drive short. He faked a scoop shot with his left hand, spun, and hit a midrange jumper while twisting around in midair.
The Crimson’s ball movement and patience were major factors in its high shooting percentage. Harvard was content with swinging the ball around the perimeter and waiting for openings to arise in BU’s zone defense rather than forcing low-percentage shots. However, several times the Crimson waited a tick too long and incurred shot clock violations.
On one second half possession, for example, Harvard passed up several mediocre shot opportunities. Towns ended up with the ball and space in the paint, and he connected on a one-legged jumper from just inside the free throw line.
The Crimson’s ball control was not perfect, however. The hosts lost the turnover battle after exhibiting poise in the opening minutes. Harvard turned the ball over 11 times in the first half, which led to half of the Terriers’ first period points coming off turnovers. In total, the Crimson gave the ball up 19 times to BU’s 16.
The Terriers’ half-court press flummoxed Harvard ball handlers on multiple occasions. Near the end of the opening period, junior guard Corey Johnson found himself trapped on the sideline, which forced an errant pass over a leaping Christian Juzang.
Defensively, the Crimson’s zone and man schemes stymied BU’s offensive game plan.
“When I watched, it was one of the things that I was concerned about because we hadn’t seen so much zone,” Jones said. “I thought we got good looks. I thought we got forced into some quick ones more in their man than anything else where we went for a post up and we took a quick shot. We didn’t show any poise at all.”
This two-three zone kept the top scoring Terrier, Cedric Hankerson, quiet throughout the night. The senior had averaged 13.6 points per game in prior appearances, but he shot just two-for-nine, and he was forced to take multiple unappealing looks from beyond the arc.
BU made up for Hankerson’s misses with efficiency from other scorers. Tyler Scanlon, Will Goff, and Max Mahoney combined to shoot 9-of-11 in the first half for 22 points.
An aggressive Harvard defense allowed the Terriers to stay in contention in the first half. The Crimson committed seven fouls compared to just three for Boston University, and the visitors capitalized by hitting six free throws to the Harvard’s zero.
In the second half, the foul and free throw numbers evened out. Neither team impressed at the line, as BU hit 15 of 24 attempts and Harvard went 13-for-20.
—Staff writer Jack Stockless can be reached at jack.stockless@thecrimson.com.