Kirkwood scores 20, leads Harvard over Holy Cross 73--62

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Noah Kirkwood scored 20 points and Harvard held off Holy Cross for a 73-62 victory on Wednesday night.

Kirkwood, a first-year guard averaging 12 points, was 7 of 8 from the field and made four 3-pointers. Robert Baker added 13 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots for Harvard (4-3), which shot 53 percent from the floor and made nine baskets from long range.

Jacob Grandison scored 21 points, including 5-of-5 shooting from 3-point range, to lead Holy Cross (4-3). Caleb Green chipped in with 12 points.

Holy Cross trailed by double digits for most of the second half until a 12-0 run made it 64-57 with 4:21 to play. Grandison and Patrick Benzan scored five points apiece during the stretch. Harvard answered with a 7-0 spurt and led 71-57 with 1:22 remaining.