Heading into Saturday's game, Harvey was second in the nation with a 96.3 percent free-throw average, having hit 26 of 27 from the line. Despite Dartmouth's best efforts to freeze the sophomore guard, Harvey hit both free throws in the clutch to seal Harvard's one-point win.
After disrupting the ensuing inbounds pass, the Crimson bench and the Lavietes crowd erupted as the Harvard players danced in a huddle under the basket. The Dartmouth players and coaching staff rushed off the court without the customary handshakes, as everyone else was too startled by the rapid turn of events to take notice.
Similar to the significance of Bird steal to the Celtics, "Pat's Pick" came at an important time for the Crimson.
Saturday night was the Ivy opener for both teams and Harvard's Ivy success depends upon consistently winning games against teams like Dartmouth and playing well against the perennial powerhouses of Penn and Princeton.
In addition to the stellar show by Harvey and Clemente, Drew Gellert turned in a masterful performance. The junior guard finished with 17 points, ten rebounds, six steals and four assists. Prasse-Freeman also made a strong contribution of eight assists and three steals on the night.
Regardless of the additional story lines to Saturday's game, Harvey's steal of Boyd's inbounds pass will be remembered as the defining moment in a game filled with tumultuous twists and turns for both teams. It may not have been the most dramatic or significant moment in Harvard basketball history, but "Pat's Pick" certainly ranks among the best endings in recent memory.
Bird's steal in 1987 beat the Pistons and helped the Celtics advance into the NBA Finals. If Harvard continues to play as resiliently as it did on Saturday, then perhaps Harvey's steal to seal its first Ivy League win will be similarly important.
In other words, if Saturday's magic continues for the Crimson, then it's possible that post-game celebrations won't be the only "dancing" Harvard will do this year.
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