Rookie Christian Webster, shown here in earlier action, gave the men's basketball team a boost with a career-high 24 points on 6-of-6 shooting beyond the arc. Unfortunately for the Crimson, Webster's hot hand from deep was not enough to get the win, as Harvard fell to Appalachian State in the first round of the College Insider.com posteason tournament.

The Harvard men’s basketball team’s first postseason run in 61 seasons ended just as quickly as it began.

Playing in the first round of the College Insider.com Postseason Tournament, the Crimson (21-8, 10-4 Ivy) let an early 12-point lead slip away to Appalachian State (23-12, 13-5 Southern), as Harvard fell, 93-71.

“I really can’t explain it,” freshman Brandyn Curry said. “I don’t know what happened. We just didn’t have it tonight. I don’t know what team that was out there. I haven’t seen that team all year.”

Led by guard Donald Sims’ 22 points, the Mountaineers used their superior size and athleticism to keep the Crimson defenders on their heels, as Harvard surrendered more points than in any of its previous contests.

Appalachian State dominated the paint, outrebounding Harvard, 39-25, and coming away with 40 points in the paint compared to the Crimson’s 16.

Sophomore Keith Wright and freshman Kyle Casey, who have anchored Harvard in the post this season, pulled down just one and three boards, respectively. Co-captain Jeremy Lin led the Crimson on the glass once again, finishing with seven rebounds—three more than any of his teammates.

As successful as the Mountaineers were in the paint, they were even more dangerous from the outside.

Five different Appalachian State players connected from deep, and the team finished 12-of-21 from beyond the arc.

Sims led the way, sinking six three-pointers on 11 attempts, including four in the second half, which helped his team grow its lead to 22 points.

But despite the lopsided outcome, Harvard found itself in control for the early pat of the contest.

Behind six points from Casey, the Crimson jumped out to an 8-0 lead just 71 seconds into the contest, forcing Mountaineers’ coach Buzz Peterson to replace all five of his starters.

Fresh legs helped Appalachian State chip away at the Harvard lead, cutting the deficit to three after Andre Williamson’s post move and shot over Wright fell.

But freshman Christian Webster pushed his team’s lead back up.

Webster, who struggled shooting the ball consistently throughout the season, caught fire from deep, scoring the Crimson’s next 13 points to lead Harvard on a 15-6 run—putting the visitors ahead 30-12 with 10:24 left in the first half.

On the possession following Williamson’s bucket, the Crimson nearly lost control of the ball, but freshman Dee Giger deflected it to sophomore Oliver McNally, who swung it to Webster in the corner. Webster nailed the trey as he was fouled.