"Coach is preparing us to expect anything," Clemente said. "Their backs are up against the wall. Just because they have a bad record doesn't mean we can just lie down."

SMU 81, Harvard 80

Harvard faced its most physically endowed opponent of the season Dec.30 and, despite being completely dominated inside and being outrebounded 40-24, the Crimson almost pulled off an exciting upset.

When Woods brought the ball upcourt down 80-78 with the shot clock turned off, it looked like Harvard had a comeback victory--or at least overtime--wrapped up. But with 12 seconds to go in the game, Woods--who had hit just two of nine shots--pulled up near the left wing and nailed a three-pointer to give the Mustangs a one-point lead.

Hill then raced downcourt with the clock winding down and hoisted a wild shot from the left corner. It clanged off the front of the rim, but Fisher corralled the rebound and came up short on a lay-up.

Astoundingly, junior guard Mike Beam grabbed a second offensive rebound--Harvard had only seven all game--but his lay-up left his hand a fraction of a second after the final buzzer sounded.

"Losing that game was the worst feeling in the world," Clemente said. "Guys were just ready to play. There wasn't a guy on the team who didn't give it his all."

Harvard shot 56.6 percent from the field, including more than 60 percent in the second half and an amazing 14-for-21 from beyond the three-point arc in the heartbreaker. The Crimson's mind-boggling shooting and outright hustle was all it had to keep it in the game against the goliath Mustangs.

After entering the half with a 38-35 lead, SMU maintained a modest lead throughout much of the second frame. The Mustangs led 74-68 with three minutes remaining when the end-of-game fireworks began.

With the shot clock winding down due to Harvard's inability to get the ball into the paint, Fisher hit a jumper from the left wing to cut SMU's lead to four.

Then, as Woods took the ball leisurely upcourt, Scott poked it away and scored on a fast break. On the Mustangs' next trip down the floor, Hill pulled off the identical feat to tie the game at 74.

"If we can get defensive rebounds or turnovers and get it into Tim Hill's hands, it just invigorates the team," Sullivan said.

To the amazement of all, Hill pulled off yet another robbery once the Mustangs got the ball back. He missed the breakaway lay-up, but Fisher snared the rebound and put it back in. The Crimson led by as many as three points with 48.9 seconds left.

"After the three steals, I really thought we were going to win," Clemente said. "That just doesn't happen. It was like it was meant to be."

Hill scored 18 points and added nine assists, and Clemente scored 20 and hit four three-pointers. Beam was a perfect four-of-four from downtown.