Aiken scores 44 to lift Harvard over Columbia 98-96 in 3OT

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Harvard's 3OT win filled with buzzer-beaters

Harvard defeats Columbia in a game filled with two buzzer-beaters and three overtimes.

Updated: Feb 9, 2019, 04:35 am

BOSTON -- Bryce Aiken had a career-high 44 points including two late free throws as Harvard narrowly defeated Columbia 98-96 in triple overtime on Friday night.

The game had buzzer-beaters to end regulation and the first overtime.

Noah Kirkwood hit a 3-pointer with 1:08 remaining to give Harvard a 96-93 lead. Quinton Adlesh made a pair of free throws to pull Columbia to 96-95 with 50 seconds left before Aiken's free throws made it 98-95. Gabe Stefanini missed a 3 for Columbia on the next possession, then Adlesh made 1 of 2 free throws to end it.

Stefanini ran the length of the court and hit a falling 3-pointer from the top of the arc at the end of regulation.

In the first overtime, Aiken took an inbounds pass, dribbled the floor and then tossed a contested, deep 3-pointer that beat the buzzer to force a second overtime tied at 81.

Jake Killingsworth's 3-pointer from the corner tied it for Columbia at 89 with 16.7 seconds to play, and Aiken missed a jumper with two seconds to go to end the second overtime.

Justin Bassey had 17 points and 10 rebounds for Harvard (11-7, 4-1 Ivy League), which earned its fifth straight win. Christian Juzang added 14 points. Robert Baker had six points, 12 rebounds and five blocks. Aiken made 16 of 18 foul shots.

Chris Lewis, who led the Crimson in scoring entering the contest with 13 points per game, shot only 20 percent in the game (1 of 5).

The 98 points were a season best for Harvard.

Stefanini had 26 points and seven rebounds for the Lions (6-13, 1-4). Adlesh scored a career-high 24 points and had six assists. Patrick Tape scored a career-high 22 points and had 12 rebounds.

Harvard faces Cornell at home on Saturday. Columbia matches up against Dartmouth on the road on Saturday.

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