“[Gibbons] is a real quick, active defensive player,” Baise said. “He really makes a difference back there, and that puts a lot more pressure on the other team’s offense.”

Harvard slowly took control, and after a run put them up, 18-11, the Engineers took another timeout to stop the bleeding.

Initially, the break proved successful, as MIT scored three quick points to get back into the contest. But the Crimson answered with a run of its own, as several Engineer miscues gave the visitors a formidable lead and eventually the game, 25-16.

With their team facing a do-or-die situation, the MIT faithful shook the DuPont Athletic Center with chants of “M-I-T!”

But it was Harvard that fed off the energy, as a series of 3-0 runs gave Harvard a 9-3 edge.

The Engineers would not go quietly, as some effective offensive work brought the score to 9-7.

But again, Harvard was up to the challenge, as another Crimson run gave Harvard the 25-17 victory in the fourth game, ending the contest, 3-1.

The Crimson will look to take this momentum into its midweek matchup with Cal Baptist, and the team is relishing the chance to take on an unfamiliar foe.

“It’s great to have a team like Cal Baptist come to Harvard,” Baise said. “It’s a great opportunity for us to take on a great West Coast team.”

—Staff writer Peter G. Cornick can be reached at pcornick@college.harvard.edu.