Athletics | April 15, 2013

Harvard basketball shocks New Mexico in 2013 NCAA tournament upset

The Crimson shocks New Mexico in NCAA tournament upset, loses in 2nd round.

From The May-June 2013 Issue

Photograph by Jim Urquhart/Reuters/Corbis Images

Scoring the biggest win in the history of the Harvard men’s basketball program, the Crimson upset powerful New Mexico—whom some had picked to reach the Final Four—68-62, to record Harvard’s first win in an NCAA basketball tournament and first against a top-10 opponent. Here, sophomore guard Wesley Saunders, who led the Ivies by averaging 16.5 points per game, gets past seven-foot New Mexico center Alex Kirk. Harvard finished atop the Ivy League for the third consecutive year. After Harvard defeated New Mexico, Arizona easily handled a cold-shooting Crimson squad, 74-51, in the next round. But with only one senior leaving, Harvard’s hoopsters may come back even stronger next year.

Published in the May-June 2013 print issue under the headline “Harvard Makes Hoops History,” in the John Harvard's Journal section.

You might also like

A Harvard football player in red runs toward the end zone while being pursued by Columbia defenders.

Crimson Football: Harvard 37, Columbia 0

A whitewash of the Lions puts the Crimson back in the Ivy driver’s seat.

A football player in a white uniform stands next to the goal post at night.

Crimson Football: Dartmouth 24, Harvard 14

Benson shines, but the Crimson fall from the ranks of the unbeaten.

A football player in black and red gear catches the ball near the orange end zone marker.

Harvard 35, Princeton 7 as Crimson Football Remains Undefeated

A quarterback proves his mettle as Harvard heads into an all-Ivy stretch

Most popular

For 15 years, William Francis Gibbs greeted the SS <i>United States</i> every time the liner he had designed arrived in New York City.

Naval architect William Francis Gibbs, designer of the SS United States

Brief life of America’s greatest naval architect: 1886-1967

Historic brick building with a tall, ornate tower against a clear blue sky.

As Union Protests Continue, Stephen Colbert and Yo-Yo Ma Event at Harvard Cut Short

A conversation between the comedian and the celebrated cellist was interrupted by a fire alarm in Sanders Theatre.

Judge Richard Posner, profiled by Lincoln Caplan

The double life of Richard Posner, America’s most contentious legal reformer

Explore More From Current Issue

Bronze statue of a seated figure holding a book, with a campus setting in the background.

Humanities

As humanities shrink across higher education, one department is flourishing. Is its success a fluke, or a roadmap?

Two fans celebrate in front of a TV showing a football game.

Research

A new Harvard Kennedy School project aims to harness the power of feral fandom.

Black and white portrait of a woman with medium-length hair, smiling softly.

Alumni

The outgoing executive director and Harvard Business School graduate went from dancing The Nutcracker to growing a ballet company.