Heading into the second-to-last weekend of the Ivy League season, Harvard has one final shot at making a lasting impression at home in what has been an up-and-down season.

For the seniors, the final home stand of the year represents their last chance to prove themselves in front of friends and family.

Harvard (10-13, 5-5 Ivy) plays host to Yale (9-13, 5-4) tomorrow night at Lavietes Pavilion, and then faces Brown (10-13, 3-6) for Saturday’s Senior Night matchup.

“My family will be here,” said senior point guard David Giovacchini. “It is the last home game, so you’d like to go out on a winning note, like everybody does.”

The Senior Night tradition returns this season after a one-year hiatus, as the 2003-04 team had no graduating players. This year, the team has four—Giovacchini, center Graham Beatty, guard Kevin Rogus and captain Jason Norman.

“I have a lot of family coming in [who] haven’t seen me play too much,” said Norman, who hails from California. “I can’t wait to have them here and get these two wins this weekend.”

This year’s seniors have quite a legacy to live up to come Saturday. The last time the team had Senior Night, in 2003, captain Brady Merchant torched Brown for a school-record 45 points in a game which Harvard lost 83-80.

“I’d be happy to get half that,” Norman said.

Norman would likely be content with a win, and the first Harvard sweep of Brown since 1999.

SATURDAY SWOON

To pick up that victory, Harvard must break a disturbing pattern: on the second night of the Ivy League’s back-to-back weekend format, Harvard is 1-3, compared to 3-1 in openers.

“I can’t really explain that,” Norman said. “Fatigue is always a factor after back-to-back games, but Cornell didn’t have too much of a problem.”

In last Saturday’s loss to Cornell, the Crimson was outscored 45-37 after halftime, losing its lead and then the game. The Big Red, coming off a road game at Dartmouth the night before, exhibited more energy than Harvard, sweeping through a fatigued defense to shoot 70 percent in the second half.

“As the season winds down, it’s always tough to pick the energy up for that Saturday night game,” junior center Brian Cusworth said.

In light of last Saturday’s struggle to keep fresh down the stretch, the team has re-evaluated its preparation in practice this week.