While Curry’s defense helped catalyze Harvard’s second-half comeback, Casey sacrificed his body to seal the victory for the Crimson.

With momentum shifting back to the Eagles as the Harvard lead dwindled to four, Boston College point guard Biko Paris blew past Lin and appeared to have a clear lane to the basket, but Casey stepped in front to take his third charge of the game.

“Obviously the biggest play of the game was that charge,” Lin said. “We needed a stop to kind of put the game away. He just did a great job with his rotation, and he was unselfish in terms of giving up his body.”

THREE-PEAT

Harvard’s win over Boston College marks its third victory in as many seasons against an elite non-conference opponent and its second in a row over the Eagles.

In Amaker’s first season at the helm, the Crimson defeated Big Ten opponent Michigan, 62-51, in front of a home crowd at Lavietes Pavillion.

And last January, Harvard traveled to Conte Forum, where it upset the Eagles of the ACC, 82-70, just days after Boston College had trumped then-No. 1 North Carolina. But apparently, Amaker doesn’t see a connection in the three big wins of his Crimson tenure.

“It’s almost like, last year was last year and doesn’t have any effect on this year," Amaker said. “Certainly we were able to win last year and felt great about it, but I’m not sure that has any bearing on this game and tonight.”

Harvard will get its final shot—at least during the regular season—at an opponent from a major conference on December 23, when the team travels to Washington D.C. to take on Georgetown.

—Staff writer Martin Kessler can be reached at martin.kessler@college.harvard.edu