Dec. 10, 2011

Box Score | View Highlights

BOSTON - Hosting its first ranked opponent since 2003, the Boston University men's basketball team fell to No. 24 Harvard, 76-52, on Saturday afternoon at Agganis Arena in front of 3,010 fans. With the loss, the Terriers drop to 4-6, while the Crimson improves to 9-1.

Senior Darryl Partin led BU with 12 points, while classmate and America East Player of the Game Patrick Hazel had 10 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Missing the first seven games due to injury, redshirt-freshman Malik Thomas swatted away two attempts and scored eight points in just 10 minutes of action.

Shooting 55.1 percent from the field, Harvard had three men score in double figures. One rebound shy of a double-double, Kyle Casey contributed a game-high 20 points, while Laurent Rivard tallied 18 points off 6-of-7 shooting from behind the arc. Keith Wright added eight points and nine rebounds, and Brandyn Curry drove the offense with seven assists.

Through the first 13 minutes of action, the teams remained close with BU grabbing its largest lead, 16-13, at 8:53 off a jumper by Partin. One minute later, he added another to give the Terriers their final lead of the game (18-17), as the Crimson finished the half on a 20-3 run.

Trailing 54-32, Partin hit a 3-pointer with 10:24 remaining in regulation. BU prevented Harvard from scoring over the next two minutes but could not take advantage on the offensive end, missing two 3-pointers and two free throw attempts.

Hazel hit both shots at the charity stripe to pull within 17 (54-37) at 8:21, but Rivard came back immediately with a 3-pointer to stop any potential rally from happening.

The Terriers only committed nine turnovers but finished the game 17-of-55 (.309) from the field and 13-of-25 (.520) at the line. Improving to 35-27 all-time against BU, Harvard had 19 assists against 13 turnovers while also winning the battle at the boards, 39-30.

Following just its third home game of the season, the Terriers will hit the road again for a trip to Philadelphia on Tuesday (Dec. 13) to face Big East power Villanova at the Wells Fargo Center. ESPN2 will broadcast the game starting at 7 p.m.