CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Interstat) — Harvard dominated Holy Cross 81-53 in a men’s nonconference basketball game Saturday at Lavietes Pavilion. The Crimson improved to 6-6, while the Crusaders fell to 5-8. Harvard seized control with a 41-point first half and never relented, leading by 28 points. Tey Barbour led all scorers with 18 points and added eight rebounds for Harvard. Austin Hunt scored a team-high 19 points, and Chandler Pigge contributed 16 points and seven rebounds. Gabe Warren scored 16 points for Holy Cross, which struggled offensively throughout. The announced attendance was 1,155. Harvard next plays at Saint John’s on Tuesday, while Holy Cross hosts Bucknell on Dec. 31.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Interstat) — Harvard’s offense operated with ruthless efficiency from the opening tip, overwhelming Holy Cross in an 81-53 men’s college basketball victory Saturday afternoon at Lavietes Pavilion. The Crimson (6-6) seized control with a dominant first-half performance, shooting 60 percent from the field to build a commanding 41-24 lead by halftime. That early burst proved insurmountable for the visiting Crusaders (5-8), who struggled to find any consistent offensive rhythm against Harvard’s defensive pressure and size inside. The most important stretch of the game came early, as Harvard answered Holy Cross’s opening basket with a decisive 16-0 run. After Gabe Warren’s jumper gave the Crusaders a 2-0 lead, Harvard’s defense locked down, forcing three quick turnovers. The Crimson offense capitalized at the other end, with Robert Hinton scoring seven points during the surge, including a three-point play, and Chandler Pigge adding a layup. By the time Austin Hunt’s 3-pointer splashed through the net with 13:56 left in the half, Harvard led 19-2, silencing the visiting supporters and setting the tone for the remainder of the contest. Holy Cross never recovered, never cutting the deficit to single digits again. Harvard’s attack was a model of balance and shot selection. The Crimson scored 46 points in the paint and connected on 7 of 14 attempts from beyond the arc. They finished the game shooting 59.6 percent from the field while holding Holy Cross to a frigid 33.3 percent. The Crusaders compounded their shooting woes by making only 6 of 30 attempts from 3-point range. Tey Barbour led all scorers for Harvard with 18 points, adding eight rebounds. He was one of four Crimson players to score in double figures, showcasing the team’s distributed offensive threat. Austin Hunt, a local product from Marlborough, Massachusetts, poured in 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Chandler Pigge contributed 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks, while Robert Hinton posted 16 points and seven rebounds. Holy Cross was led by Gabe Warren, who scored 16 points. Joe Nugent added nine points and five rebounds. The Crusaders were hampered by an offensive rating of just 87.9 points per 100 possessions, a stark contrast to Harvard’s mark of 128.3. Harvard also dominated in transition, outscoring Holy Cross 13-2 in fastbreak points, and protected the rim effectively with seven blocked shots. While the Crimson committed 11 turnovers to Holy Cross’s six, their overwhelming advantage in field goal percentage rendered that discrepancy moot. A crowd of 1,155 watched as Harvard evened its season record and delivered a performance that aligned with pregame expectations, having been installed as a 9.5-point favorite. The total score of 134 points fell just under the over/under line of 135.5. Holy Cross, which entered the game following a 25-point loss to Dartmouth, continues to search for consistency. The Crusaders begin Patriot League play on New Year’s Eve against Bucknell. Harvard, meanwhile, will look to build on this comprehensive victory as it travels to face Saint John’s on Tuesday before closing its non-conference schedule at Colgate. The Crimson open Ivy League play at home against Dartmouth on Jan. 5.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum before conference play begins will meet Saturday when Holy Cross visits Harvard in a nonconference men’s basketball matchup at Lavietes Pavilion. Both the Crusaders (5-7) and the Crimson (5-6) enter with identical aspirations: to reach .500 and build confidence after inconsistent starts to the season. Holy Cross is looking to rebound from an 89-64 home loss to Dartmouth on Tuesday, while Harvard has been idle since a 79-69 defeat at Furman on Dec. 6. The game features a compelling backcourt matchup between two dynamic guards. Holy Cross will rely on Tyler Boston, who scored 19 points in the loss to Dartmouth and is averaging 14.7 points and 4.1 assists over his last seven games. His ability to facilitate and score will be crucial for the Crusaders’ offense. Harvard counters with high-scoring guard Robert Hinton, who has been on a tear. He is averaging 23.6 points over his last five contests, including a 35-point outburst at Massachusetts and a 34-point performance at Boston University. Containing Hinton will be a primary defensive focus for Holy Cross. Historically, Harvard holds a 39-35 series advantage, but Holy Cross won the most recent meeting, 70-66, in Worcester last December. The Crusaders have shown resilience in close games, evidenced by a 70-69 road win at Fordham earlier this month, but are 1-5 away from home this season. Harvard is 3-1 at Lavietes Pavilion. Following this contest, Harvard faces a quick turnaround with a road game at Saint John’s on Dec. 23. Holy Cross breaks for the holidays before opening Patriot League play at home against Bucknell on Dec. 31. Saturday’s in-state clash offers both teams a final opportunity to refine their play before turning their full attention to their respective league schedules.