PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—Some places you just can’t win.

Looking for victory in two places that have proved inhospitable since the first Bush administration, the Harvard men’s basketball team dropped contests at Penn and Princeton this weekend.

Fresh off a 20-day layoff for exam period and buoyed by a 2-0 Ivy League record, the Crimson (10-7, 2-2 Ivy) managed to keep it close against the Tigers, losing 67-61, but suffered a 75-59 defeat the next night at the Palestra in Philadelphia.

Penn 75, Harvard 59

The Quakers (10-5, 2-0) took advantage of their hot shooting hand, especially from beyond the arc, to keep Harvard at bay for most of the game. As a team, Penn shot 49.1 percent from the field and 55 percent from three-point range, including guard Tim Begley’s perfect 5-for-5 night from long range.

Begley and guard Andrew Toole, who had 21 points, led all scorers on the night and, more importantly, neutralized Harvard’s numerous attempts at a comeback in the second half.

“Penn probably has more answers on the perimeter than any other team in the Ivy League,” Harvard coach Frank Sullivan said. “Their ability … really leaves you as a defensive player with your head spinning a little bit.”

The Crimson was unable to respond with a similar offensive effort. Senior shooting guard Pat Harvey, who has had some of his best games against Penn, was held to 13 points on 3-of-14 shooting, and made only one three-pointer.

Penn’s hands-on defense also forced Crimson ball-handlers into some poor decisions, especially along the baseline, causing Harvard to turn the ball over 21 times.

“We played hard,” Sullivan said. “But we only had a few positives.

Penn opened up a double-digit lead midway through the first half, but the play was ugly on both sides. Both teams were turning the ball over and failing to finish fast breaks. However, rebounding efforts by Penn’s Jan Fikiel led to several easy putbacks and kick-outs for open threes, and the Quakers had 12 second-chance points (to Harvard’s two) in the first half.

Following a dunk by 7’ freshman center Brian Cusworth and a pair of Harvey free throws, the Crimson went into the locker room only down 32-26.

Harvard would never get closer.

Penn began the second half with three-pointers from All-Ivy forward Koko Archibong and guard Jeff Schiffner to open up a 12-point lead and never looked back.

Senior forward Sam Winter and captain Brady Merchant finished with 11 and 10 points for the Crimson, respectively.