“We could guard their plays, but we knew if we didn’t keep Forte in check it wouldn’t make any difference, because he’s certainly one of the toughest covers in the league.”

Norman, meanwhile, began to take over the game offensively for the Crimson. He began to drive to the basket and recorded six straight Harvard points—including a jumper and two layups set up by creative moves in the paint.

His last layup put the Crimson up 54-43 with 8:08 to play, and Harvard would hold the double-digit advantage until Brown forward Mark MacDonald connected on a jumper with 52 seconds left that cut the lead to nine.

Just 30 seconds later, with the Crimson comfortably ahead by 12, Cusworth pulled down a defensive rebound and found Norman streaking down the court. The long pass found its way to Norman, who eased into his pre-dunk gait and went up for the two-handed jam. A hard foul by the Bears’ Mark McAndrew kept Norman from making that rim-rocking statement, but his two subsequent free-throws allowed him to make a stronger one.

Norman finished the game with 12 points. Forte could muster just 10.

Give round one to the Jason from Harvard.

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