Cornell got out to a hot start, hitting its first six shots to open the contest, and a Foote spin move followed by a lefty floater over Harvard sophomore Andrew Van Nest gave the Big Red a 19-10 lead just under six minutes into the game.

But Harvard countered with a 7-0 run sparked by a layup from sophomore Keith Wright. Moments later, freshman Dee Giger knocked down an open deep ball to get within two after Wright recovered an offensive rebound and sent it back out to the wingman on the perimeter.

Cornell’s Mark Coury blew a layup on the Big Red’s next possession and the Crimson came away with the ball—and the opportunity to tie the score or take the lead.

Lin found Van Nest beyond the arc, but the big man’s shot attempt—Harvard’s only attempt in the game to take the lead—clanged off the rim.

Foote finished with a dunk on the other end, starting a 16-0 run for the Big Red, which would take a 38-24 lead into the break.

Six points from Lin to start the second half got the deficit back down to 10, but the Crimson would never get closer than that, as Cornell cruised to the 36 point victory.

“I think they’re an outstanding basketball team,” Amaker said. “One of the better teams in the country from what I’ve been able to see.”

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