“I have never seen the Harvard student body come together in support of our sports teams like that night,” McCaffery said. “The energy in the gym was really incredible. I know we all feel so lucky to have had that experience.”
The victory granted the Crimson a share of the Ivy title, its third in four years and ninth overall.
With both teams sporting identical 12-2 records and splitting the season series, a one-game playoff was arranged at Brown’s Pizzitola Center to decide who would receive the Ivy League’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Dartmouth yet again built up a sizeable lead, but this time there would be no improbable comeback. Harvard closed its season with the 75-61 loss.
Despite not reaching postseason play, the Crimson accomplished its greatest goal—taking one game at a time and snagging an Ivy championship on the way.
—Staff writer J. Patrick Coyne can be reached at coyne@fas.harvard.edu.