LIVE BLOG: Men's Basketball v. Holy Cross

7:30 pm: Start of the Live Blog.
7:32 pm: The Saders take the stage to a jazzy rendition of Souljaboy's "Crank Dat" and begin an impressive collection of warm ups. Their stretching reminds me of the ol' West Coast standards brought into form in the '30's in Stanford and USC. Way to go boys.
7:34 pm: Good evening, Sports Fans. This is Walt Howell here (with my best friend and sports comper Troy "the Murder" Murrell), bringing you, the Harvard fan, the best coverage we can muster as your Harvard Crimson (2-2) take on the undefeated Holy Cross Saders. Holy Cross definitely has the size advantage on the Crimson, with 6-11 Tim Clifford leading the way. Clifford dropped 22 on the Crimson in a 13-point win for the Saders last season. Jim Goffredo '07 and junior point guard Drew Housman combined for 35 in that losing effort.
So it will be speed v. size tonight, and the Crimson are going to hope to run over the Saders and, in the process, hand the squad its first loss of the season.
I'm excited. Troy, are you stoked?
I could not be stoked to a higher temperature at this moment.
I've got my Sprite, a cold slice of the best Domino's 'za Worcester has to offer in my belly, and I'm ready for an upset.
Let's get her done, as they say.
*Footnote: There is 17 minutes to game time. This game blog will suffer.

7:50: Nearing game time, some interesting Sader facts Troy has enlightened me on. Holy Cross: 1947 NCAA Champions, lost to Bucknell in Patriot League championship two years ago, won in 2005 and 2007, going to the NCAA tournament both years, and they where a lot of purple.
Final fact: Saders picked to finish first in Patriot once again this year. Goign to be a very tough test for the Crimson.
8:00: Amaker in the turtle neck. He pulls it off--barely. Kind of goofy, though. Okay, see how many times I can reference the "neck," as I'll deem it. Deftly, of course.
8:02: Pat Magnerelli (barely 6'9) v. Tim Clifford (pushing 7'0): Big, big, BIG mismatch.
19:18 (I'm going game time): Harvard forces turnover, tied at 2-2.
19:02: Harris walks. Turnover.
18:35: Harris pounds it in on the blocks. Gets the roll for 4-4 tie.
18:21: Magnerelli bats it out, good defense.
18:14: Breakdown in defense, wide open three. Forward Alex Vander Bann, junior 6'9, has all 7 points for the Saders, up 7-4.
17:41: Harvard lloks a little flusterd here, confused with the zone D from Holy Cross.
17:15: Turnover Lin, no boxout Harris. 9-4, after putback by, who else, Bann.
16:57: Harvard keeps the pace up as expected forcing quick turnovers. They need to get in rythym.
16:40: Pusar has two free throws sinking only the second. Harvard averages 60% on the season which could be a problem against the 80% shooting Saders.
15:55: 13-5 after two more Harvard turnovers. Amaker doesn't like what he's seeeing, takes Harris out after four minutes.
15:22: Timeout to stop the bleeding. Down 13-5, it seems to me a result of turnovers and confused play, on defense and offense. Not heads up ball form Amaker's crew. one positive is that Clifford only has 2 points and looks to be struggling to get points on his own--without getting offensive boards.
Also, he's balding.
15:15: Guess what? Harvard turnover. Six turnovers in five minutes. Make that seven, with a poor pass from Magnerelli.
14:00: Housman ends 11-1 Sader run with a runner. 15-7. Then he takes it to the hoop and gets foul. He is pissed and playing well as a result.
13:30: Lin misses open three. Harris drops in a leaning off balance bucket. Harvard only down 15-9.
Still no settling in the game pace, though. It's kind of running, but not the way the Crimson wants to. Holy Cross is missing some open shots to keep them in it.
13:00: Size really hurting the Crimson. They can't buy a board, as Saders get another tip-in bucket. 17-9.
12:14: Good help D from Lin. But Holy Cross maintains possession, then Harris gets the foul. Saders shooting two. Makes the first, 18-9. Second is good, and as my partner mentioned, that 80% shooting from the stripe is helping Holy Cross. 19-9.
11:44: Crimson is struggling in the half-court set, they need to run.
11:13: Holy Cross' center gets a rebound...while sitting down. Come on guys, grab a board here. Timeout Saders, 19-9
One positive for the Crimson: sophomore Dan McGearney plays tenacious defense, I'm talking Wojochoski level D.
10:23: Harris can not go right. Mcgearney can make NBA level threes. 23-12.
Sick shot.
9:34: It's Baan 13, Harvard 12. Or, Holy Cross 23, Crimson 12. Timeout Harvard.
The three was the first bucket in four minutes for the Crimson, who are lucky to be in shouting distance.
Also, the ball kids look like zombies. They are so not excited to be here. Oh, man, mustache guy in the audience. HUGGGGEEE 'stachio. Unbelievable.
You take the good with the bad, I guess.
8:00: It's getting ugly. No inside presence. No rebounding. No offensive rythym. 27-12.
But now, for Troy's thoughts...on movies:
Let's start with Saw IV: PASS ON IT.
Second, No Country for Old Men: See it!!!
Of course, I'm basing all my intelligence on Yahoo! Movie Preview reconnaissance. Only the best.
Back to the line for Magnarelli's first free throw.
7:48: Sunk. That's two for the Crimson who are up to 14 now.
7:30: Excited defense translates into a steal in the paint despite missing out on another defensive rebound moments before.
6:58: Housman goes to the line after driving into traffic for a missed floater.
6:58: Mustache offers his thoughts. The officials will take them under consideration. And Housman sinks both. 27-16 Holy Cross.
6:35: Lin snags a rebound and Crimson center Miller races downcourt for a fouled layup. This is the game it seems Harvard was looking for against the bigger Saders. 21-17 Holy Cross as Miller makes one of two.
6:19: Harvard has switched to a man coverage which has stymied the Crusadres in the last 3 possessions.
6:16: Until I said that. They sink two free throws and Andrew Pusar returns to the game.
6:00: Drew Housman knocks down a 3 to make it a 9 point game.
5:28: Harvard switches to zone, and force HC intoa tough three, but, once again, they fail to get two rebound. New possession for Crusaders up 30-20.
5:01: Good D from Miller, gets jumpball, but no change of possession.
4:50: Holy Cross' second three of the game takes the breath out of Harvard, Magnerellimisses bunny, and it's a 15-point game just like that. 35-20 after fadeaway jumpshot from HC.
3:30: Baan now has 14, but Magnerelli counters with Harvard's first offensive rebound of the night and putback, 37-24.
2:20: Housman is all the Crimson's got consistently on offense. He's got 9 on a beautiful up and under through traffic (again), pulling Harvard to 39-26. Timeout.
1:40: Best ball movement of the night from the Crimson, ending with a nice baseline drive and layup in traffic for Lin. 40-28.
But just like that, another HC layup, and the Crimson is down 14 again, 42-28.
1:07: Housman draws the foul and nails two free throws, so silky at the line. 42-30. A stop and a bucket would be really nice right now.
:44: Big turnover form Housman. Harris draws the foul then claps in defenders' face, proving that he is Spartacus. Makes first, 42-31.
Nails second, 42-32.
Halftime: Crimson is very lucky to only be down 10.
College HIll Basketball League takes the court. Red v. Orange, we are seeing some magnificent passing skills and great boxing out by the reds. Is it ever too early to start recruiting for the Crimson?
On another note, even these 10 12-14 old boys are ignoring the HC cheerleaders.
4-0 Orange. And I'm bored. Savior, thy name is Facebook.

SECOND HALF
19:30: Crimson comes out firing with a three from Housman, but Clifford counters with a jay from the top of the key, his first shot made outside the paint all night. 44-35
18:30: Harris almost goes off on the refs for traveling call after he coralled a great block on the other end. It's up and down for Harris tonight.
18:00: Great cut from Pusar backdoor for his first bucket, nine point lead, 46-37.
17:20: Lin can't buy a three, although that's his third open chance of the night. Need him to get going.
Comes back with turnover. Crimson is struggling expect for Housman.
16:15: Housman somehow gets a floater up over the biggies. Down 7 for first time ages, 46-39.
Note: Housman leading the team in points AND boards, 16 and 5.
15:45: Housman amazing steal, pass to Lin, to Pusar, 5 point game, 46-41.
15:22: Harris goes up for the block, but gets arm, Baan to the line to score for first time since middle of first half. First, good, Second, good. 48-41, back up to seven.
15:10: Quirky play: housman hits bucket, but it goes off the topp fo the backboard, leading the "neck" to makes its first major appearance to night, being grabbed by Amaker to signify his consternation with teh call. And warmth.
14:10: Magnerelli with great up and under after layup from Clifford on other end. 50-43.
13:49: May nails three for HC, prompting Housman to calmy take the ball downcourt and nail a three in his face to bring the Crimson back to 53-46. This is shaping to be another performance liek Princeton last year (18 of last 2o for Hous, taking over)
13:30: Lin can jump out of the roof, btw.
13:10: Lin finally makes a bucket, oh man, five point game, 53-48.
This would be an epic comeback. Momentum is there, travelling on the other end, Crimson ball down 5.
12:20: Amaker is not happy with Harris. He's been sitting for over four minutes with only 2 fouls. Cunningham makes 1 of 2, 54-48.
ZOMBIES!! On the court!! Oh, woops, it's just the lifeless ballboys who have not smiled all night. But MUSTCHHIOO RETURNSS!! Up and down, that's how it goes.
Timeout Holy Cross after McGearny turnover. 11:57 to play, Crimson only down six after being crushed in the first half, down about 15 almost all the way. They've responded behind Housman, but I just don't know if they can sustain that energy. They seemed to have dropped a little in the past two minutes. We'll see if they come out pumped after the breather.
10:23: Holy Cross has just put in three free throws on the past two possessions, extending the lead to 57-48. But the three juinors-Hous, Harris, and Pusar return to bring Crimson back.
10:12: Huge three from Lin on big pick from Housman. 57-51 like that.
9:40: Travelling from Harris. The 'neck' is back, yelling at assistant coach for yelling at the ref. "Control yourself," the 'neck' tells the young one.
9:00: Lin almost grabs the steal, on great play. HC ball
8:47: Harris forgets that grabbing a rebound requires two hands. HC ball, again. Longest possession ever.
8:21: Housman threads the needle from haflcourt to roommate Pusar. Within 4!, 57-53.
7:50: Another steal by Lin. Timeout. Crimson down four 57-53 with the ball and eight minutes to play.
SUPER NOTE OF THE YEAR: Housman, with 19 points, has NOT MISSED A SHOT!
This boy is possessed.
7:30: Housman with sick pass to Magnerelli. Down 2!!
7:10: The giant at the other end counters, Clifford has 16, 59-55.
7:00: Lin counters iwth beautiful fadeway, he has 9, 59-57.
6:30: Clifford foulded with Lin on him, the big man can shoot free throws. Third on Lin, makes both, 61-57. Can the Crimson (aka Lin-Housman show keep it up).
6:23: ONE POINT GAME!! Pusar nails the three on the corner on assist from Li, 61-60.
6:11: Good help D from Pusar, but Magnerelli with bailout foul. Cunningham can't shoot throws, so, he make one of two, 62-60.
5:55: Boys and girls, we have a tie game! And 1! Magnerelli takes it strong to the basket, shooting one for the lead. Misses. Tied 62-62.
5:30: Clifford taking over, layup down low. No one can guard him. 64-62.
Stuffs Harris at the other end.
18 for Clifford now.
Harris with tic-tac, stupid foul. His fourth with 5:05 to play.
5:05: Cunnignham, suprisingly, makes both. 66-62. Crimson needs to step it up.
4:45: Harris takes it to the hole ( to the left, who would have guessed), and draws bailout foul. Makes 1 of 2, but Magnerelli gets board.
66-63
4:20: Pusar with crazy eyes, finds Lin backdoor for bunny. 66-65, Lin wiht 11.
4:00: 68-65 after HC bucket.
Crimson playing man-to-man, Cruze wide open for HC, airball, follow on Baan over Lin. Crimson ball, down three, 68-65. Timeout. Whew.
What's going to happen Troy?
Well let's take a look at Stache. He's just run out of his "Gatorade." This doesn't bode well for the crowd around him which is composed mostly of kids. As long as Harris doesn't foul and instead feeds Lin and Housman on the cuts and threes, the Crimson can pull this off. Let's get back to the action.
3:24 to play.
Lin misses the front end, big miss.
Block from Mags, but Cunningham gets bucket.
Harris stripped, team is flustered. They can't have him with the ball late.
2:30: 70-65

2:00: Down 7 now, Clifford with 22.
1:50: Harris misses layup, but Mags battles for ball. Crimson ball, 72-65.
1:30: Housman misses his first shot all night. It's all but over now. And there's the nail in the coffin. Layup over Harris, foul, he's out, 74-65, 1:20 to play. Comeback over. Game over.
The story of this game will be from 62-62, the Crimson got nothing, being outscored 14-3 down the stretch. This is a young team who put up a great effort though, although this one especially hurts.
47.4: Two free throws from HC, foul on three ball of Lin, three shots, 76-65.
Makes 2 of 3, 76-67.
Turnover on in bounds, Crimson ball.
Housman turnover. Lin foul and bucket from HC. 78-67 with a free throw coming.
32.5: Makes it, 79-67. Lin drives, fouled. Shooting two. Makes first, 79-68.
30.7: Foul Pusar. Shooting two. 80-69. Makes both.
Dribbles out the clock. Final score, 80-69.
Leaders for the Crimson: 19 and 6 from Housman, 15 for Lin, Magnerelli with 12, Pusar with 10.
Gritty game, tough loss. See you next time.