He followed Evers' run with nine consecutive points of his own, including four off the offensive boards. Overall, Schernecker finished with 18 points (7-for-11 from the floor), three rebounds and no turnovers in a season-high 22 minutes of playing time.

But the Jaspers clung tenaciously to their lead. Both teams scored 42 points in the second half, although Harvard had 23 more field goal attempts.

The most telling statistic was field goal percentage, where Manhattan wasted the Crimson, 60.4 percent to 40.3 percent.

And although Harvard battled back to within five points at one late juncture in the game, and although Gielin tendered his latest entry in the Best Move By A 5-ft., 10-in. Guy Contest on a spectacular, fast-break look-away lay-up, the hosts were too tough in the end.

The Crimson was down, 73-68, with 55 seconds remaining, but a parade of Jasper free throw shooters built the difference up to its final 12 points.

If only the real Harvard men's basketball team will stand up a little earlier next time.

THE NOTEBOOK: Former Harvard Coach Frank McLaughlin, who left Cambridge in September for the job as athletic director at Fordham, and his wife attended the game...Starter Kyle Dodson saw only 17 minutes of playing time and was held scoreless, going 0-for-3 from the floor and 0-for-2 from the foul line...Bill Mohler, the Crimson's starting center, netted only four points, but was perfect in field goals (1-for-1) and free throws.