“From [when the score was] 48-44, I don’t think we got a loose ball or rebound the rest of the game,” Princeton coach Joe Scott said. “Give them credit for hustling.”

Princeton shot a gaudy 61 percent from the floor in the second half, a figure that would normally be good enough to shore up a win. But Harvard routinely beat the Tigers to the ball, and limited them to one shot and out on offense. Princeton grabbed only five boards after intermission to the Crimson’s 17, and Harvard didn’t allow the Tigers to score a single second-chance point.

“Keeping those extra possessions away from Princeton, any Princeton team, is absolutely critical,” Sullivan said. “Our guys did an excellent job on the defensive boards.”

The Tigers were carried much of the way by the gritty play of center Judson Wallace. It was questionable that he’d start, due to a bad back, but he stepped up to pour in 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 14 in the second half to keep Princeton close. For Harvard, Cusworth’s two big late baskets netted him 10 points to go along with 10 rebounds, while Stehle added nine points.

The win was even more special in light of last year’s twin losses to the Tigers—a wrenching double-overtime defeat at Princeton, and a 60-51 loss at home in which the Crimson led up until the final minutes.

“We were so close the past couple of years,” Rogus said. “To finally come around and get it is a big relief.”

—Staff writer Caleb W. Peiffer can be reached at cpeiffer@fas.harvard.edu.