While Harvard improved its impressive home record, FAU coach Mike Jarvis also found himself at home last night. A native of none other than Cambridge and former standout athlete at Rindge Technical High School, Jarvis returned to his hometown for tonight’s game.

Jarvis—who is currently in his fourth year at the helm of the Owls and 23rd season as a head coach of a Division 1 basketball program—coached at Harvard from 1973-1977, assisting then-coach Tom Sanders of Celtics fame.

After a long stretch of coaching in Massachusetts, Jarvis ventured south in 1990, first to St. Johns and eventually to FAU.

And after coaching his current team to a hard fought loss at the hands of the Crimson, the former Northeastern basketball and baseball standout had nothing but good things to say about the development of Harvard’s program.

“There are more black people in this building and here at Harvard than I’ve seen ever,” Jarvis said. “It’s wonderful to see all the Cambridge people. ... Harvard is reaching out to the community now, which they never did before.”

Although Thursday night’s contest marked the first time the Crimson and the Owls have met on the basketball court, Amaker and Jarvis have experience coaching against each other.

“I’ve coached against Mike before and have a great deal of respect for him,” Amaker said. “I’ve always looked up to him. He’s a great coach, as you all know, and I’ve always admired Mike and his family.”

—Staff writer Catherine E. Coppinger may be reached at ccoppinger@college.harvard.edu.