Maldunas entered Saturday’s contest averaging 9.1 points—good for 20th in the Ivy League and tops among all rookies—and 6.8 rebounds—fifth in the Ivy League and best among freshmen.

The Lithuanian has been on a tear as of late, scoring in double figures and posting at least nine rebounds in Dartmouth’s last three games.

But it was not all fun and games for Maldunas on Saturday. He shot 6-of-15 from the field and committed a team high three turnovers. And in one crucial sequence early in the second half, Maldunas blew a layup and McNally knocked down a three-pointer while the Big Green scrambled back on defense, cutting Dartmouth’s lead from a possible nine points to four.

“We got a rebound, kind of had a run out, and Brandyn [Curry] hit me for three; It was a big five-point swing,” McNally said. “Dartmouth is going to wish they had that one back, but we’re not going to point to one play. I think our overall defensive performance in the second half was a lot better.”

A FAMILIAR FOE

Entering Saturday’s matchup with a 3-12 record, the Big Green may not have seemed like a tough matchup for the two-loss Crimson. But based on past experience, Harvard knew it could not take Dartmouth lightly.

Last season, the Big Green came to Lavietes Pavilion with a 4-11 record and led the 12-3 Crimson by 12 points early in the second half before Harvard came back to win by nine.

The year before, Harvard had to battle back from an 11-point deficit midway through the first half before capturing a four-point win at Dartmouth’s Leede Arena.

And during the 2008-09 season, McNally—then a freshman—saved the Crimson from suffering a pair of losses to the Big Green when he stuck a 12-foot runner to give Harvard a one-point win.

McNally, who has gone 6-1 against Dartmouth during his Crimson career, will get one last shot against the Big Green when Harvard visits Leede on Jan. 21.

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