The Harvard men's basketball team has lost close games before. But on Saturday against the University of Albany, a mix of improbable mistakes combined to introduce the Crimson to a new, unpleasant way of losing.

Facing off against the independent Great Danes (2-4) at the Recreation and Convocation Center in Albany, N.Y., Harvard (2-2, 0-0 Ivy) fumbled a halftime lead and suffered several turnovers in the last minute before bowing out 82-78.

"Things couldn't have gone worse," Crimson captain Dan Clemente, a forward, said. "We had a couple of chances to put that away."

Harvard held a three-point lead with 1:40 left to play before it gave up seven points in a row. Albany missed a jump shot and fouled Crimson guard Brady Merchant with 42 seconds left.

Merchant missed both free throws, bringing his game total to 0-of-4 from the line. The ball-handling problems continued.

"We had a few turnovers, and a couple rebounds that went out of bounds right at the end," sophomore guard Pat Harvey said.

Albany guard E.J. Gallup then hit his third trey of the game to even the score at 78-78 with 16 seconds left. After the Crimson once again turned the ball over, Great Dane forward Will Brand scored off an inbounds pass to give Albany a two-point lead. Several seconds later, forward Sam Hopes stole another pass and sealed the victory with a pair of free throws.

The loss followed two Crimson blowout victories over Lehigh and cross-river rival Northeastern. Dropping the game to Albany--a team that came to Cambridge last year and left with an 18-point loss--may have been more of a case of the Great Danes' toughness than any mental lapse by Harvard.