The Big Green jumped on the Crimson early, pulling ahead 11-4 after Michael McLaren hit three free throws. McLaren had nine of Dartmouth’s first 11 points and scored all of his game-high 15 points in the first half.

“We were expecting someone to come out and shoot the three,” Giovacchini said. “McLaren hit some big shots to get them going and give them the energy they needed.”

Harvard fought back with an 11-4 run of its own to knot the game at 15. Giovacchini had two of his game-high six assists during that span, setting up both Stehle and junior forward Zach Martin for three-pointers.

“He’s been really solid for us,” Norman said of Giovacchini’s performance. “We can’t ask too much more of him. He’s getting our big men the ball. He’s making great passes.”

The Crimson failed to connect on another field goal for over five minutes, as the Big Green pulled out to a six-point lead, 21-15. Stehle broke the drought with a layup and later converted a three-point play to pull Harvard within four, but Dartmouth went on a 7-2 run over the final three minutes of the half to take a 31-22 advantage into the locker room.

The Crimson returns to Lavietes Pavilion to take on Sacred Heart on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Harvard will then take a 17-day break for exams after which it will continue its Ivy League schedule with road dates at Cornell and Columbia.

—Staff writer Michael R. James can be reached at mrjames@fas.harvard.edu.