Nov. 22, 2002
Bridgeport, Conn. -- Elliott Prasse-Freeman made his only field goal attempt of the game count, as the senior drilled an eight-footer with two seconds remaining in the game to lift Harvard University (1-0 overall) to a 69-67 win over Fairfield University (0-1 overall).
The Stags erased a seven-point deficit early in the first half, 12-5, by using a 16-8 run over five minutes to make the score 21-20 with 9:06 left in the half. Fairfield never trailed for the remainder of the first half, taking a 35-26 lead at intermission. The Stags stayed in front through most of the second half as well, until Harvard fought back to tie the game at 57-57 with 4:58 remaining in the game off a free throw by Sam Winter.
Fairfield regained the lead at 59-57 with 4:32 on the clock, before Brady Merchant's three-pointer gave Harvard its first lead 9:23 mark of the first half. Kudjo Sogadzi aided the Stags cause with key shooting down the stretch, hitting a three-pointer to tie the score at 64 with 1:10 left, as well as netting a basket with 14 seconds left making the score 67-67.
Harvard came down court without calling a timeout. Merchant missed the initial shot, but the ball popped out to Prasse-Freeman, who calmly buried the eight-footer to put the Crimson in the lead. Sogadzi tried a desparation shot from midcourt, but the ball never reached the rim.
Fairfield center Rob Thomson tied a career-high and led all scorers with 19 points in addition to his eight rebounds. Oscar Garcia and Tyquawn Goode each reached double-digits with 12 and 10 points respectively for the Stags. Merchant finished the game with 18 points, while Brian Sigafoos tallied 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
The win marked the ninth time in the last ten seasons that Harvard has opened the season with a victory.
