Kirk posted a double-double with 22 points and
12 rebounds
and Bairstow added 15 points and nine rebounds but UNM’s guard
combo of Tony Snell, Kendall Williams and Hugh Greenwood combined to score just
17 points on
5 of 21 shooting including an ice cold 1 of 9 from behind the 3-point line.
The Crimson started the game on a 9-2 run and
controlled the
tempo and pace of the game throughout, managing to get key shots
when they
needed them throughout.
UNM twice tied the game on baskets by Kirk,
tying the game
at 18-18 the second time with 5:13 left in the first half.
But Harvard (20-9) responded with a 7-2 run
capped by two
3-pointers by Christian Webster to give the Crimson a 29-22 lead
with 2:38 left
in the half. Tony Snell hit a pair of jumpers, including his only
trey of the
game, and UNM trailed 31-27 at the half.
New Mexico opened on a 6-0 run to take a 33-31
lead but
Crimson was able to respond with an 8-0 run to take the lead back
at 39-33 with
17:22 left in the game. UNM kept the game close and appeared to be
poised to
make a run after a Jamal Fenton 3-pointer game the Lobos a 49-47
lead with 7:53
left in the game. But Harvard kept things close. UNM took it’s
final lead,
53-51on an Alex Kirk lay up with 6:26 left in the game.
But the Crimson again made a run, ignited by a
Laurent Rivard 3-pointer with 6:16, to take a 63-55 lead with 2:17 left in
the game.
Harvard then hit their free throws down the
stretch to keep
UNM from mounting a last minute comeback.
Harvard finished with four players in double
figures, led by
Wesley Saunders’ 18 points, including 8 of 9 free throw shooting.
Rivard added
17 points on 5 of 9 3-point shooting and a 2 of 3 performance from
the free
throw line. Webster added 11 points and Kenyatta Smith added 10
points and
seven rebounds.
New Mexico finishes the season 29-6.