The scores that resulted from two of these Bulldogs turnovers provoked some of the loudest ovations of the contest.

With 7:08 left in the game, a turnover from Bulldog Jack Montague fueled a coast-to-coast Curry fastbreak, which cut Harvard’s deficit to four for the first time since intermission.

The crowd at Lavietes Pavilion was on its feet, and Yale was on its heels.

Five minutes later, after the Eli lead was extended once more, sophomore Siyani Chambers did his best Curry impression. The point guard stole the ball from Javier Duren and tore down the floor, converting the layup seconds later.

The Yale lead was back down to six.

However, cold shooting the rest of the way would prohibit Harvard from coming much closer.

“It didn’t seem like [Yale had 19 turnovers,]” Amaker said. “I am pleased with [forcing those] turnovers because I thought we played with great effort. We gave great energy and effort defensively, and we did that all weekend.”

NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP IN SIGHT

In the 2012-2013 campaign, Chambers beat out Yale’s Justin Sears for Ivy League Rookie of the Year. While Chambers garnered a First Team All-Ivy selection, Sears got no such accolade. Nor was he placed on the conference’s Second Team. Or Third.

But one season later, Sears has come into his own. The 6’8” big man shot 6-of-11 in Saturday’s contest and connected on 9-of-10 free throws en route to a 21-point, game-leading performance. The sophomore notched almost as many defensive rebounds—eight—as the entire Crimson squad—13.

Sears’ double-double and command in the paint led Amaker to label him as a “monster” inside.

Sears played in only one of last season’s Harvard-Yale matchups, a game in which he shot efficiently, but failed to record a single rebound in 25 minutes, tallying three fouls and two turnovers instead.

Only 12 months later, Sears is fourth in the Ancient Eight in boards per game and tied for second in total rebounds.

“He is an outstanding player,” Curry said. “We knew going in that he was going to be a force in there. It was in our game plan to help out when he got the ball around the basket and dig in inside. He is a good player and he played really well.”

—Staff writer Juliet Spies-Gans can be reached at juliet.spies-gans@thecrimson.com.