Late Heroics by AJ Lesburt, Kino Lilly Jr Lead Brown Past Harvard, Bears Hold Sole Possession of Final Ivy Tournament Spot

A one-eyed Alexander Lesburt Jr. sunk a three-pointer with 56.3 seconds remaining in overtime to lift Brown (10-17, 6-6 Ivy) past Harvard (14-11, 5-7 Ivy) 71-68 on Friday evening in the Pizzitola Sports Center.

MARTIN POSTGAME

The win and Columbia’s loss put Brown in the driver’s seat for the final Ivy Madness spot. The Bears could clinch tomorrow with a win over Dartmouth (Senior Night) OR a Harvard loss at Yale.

Lesburt Jr. was fouled in the eye earlier in the contest and he was able to regroup and hit the dagger as the Bears swept the Crimson for the first time since the 2019-20 season.

AJ finished with 11 points, Nana Owusu-Anane posted his 10th double-double of the season with 13 points, 14 rebounds and four steals, and Kino Lilly Jr. added a team-high 16 points and five assists. Malachi Ndur collected eight points, five rebounds and four assists in the win, and Lyndel Erold played sensational defense with two blocks and a steal.

FIRST HALF
Brown’s defense was on full display with three blocks and two steals at the 13:31 mark. The Bears led 11-4, highlighted by a razzle-dazzle by Lilly Jr. following Ndur’s block.

The Bears continued to dominate in all facets, extending the lead to 22-8 and limiting the Crimson to just four points in 13 minutes of action. At the under-four media, Harvard was held to 21.1 percent shooting and Brown collected six blocks.

The Bears ended the half with a Lilly Jr. layup and a nine-point edge, 28-19.

Brown continued to pound the offensive glass with 11 offensive rebounds and 14 second-chance points.

SECOND HALF
Lesburt Jr. forced a turnover and drove to the bucket to extend the Bears lead back to double figures with 17:02 remaining in regulation. Moments later, Erold drained a corner triple to get the run started.

Owusu-Anane dove for a loose ball to bring the over 1,700 packed in the Pizz to their feet, and co-captain Ndur showed off the touch from long distance with a three-pointer to make it 44-29.

Harvard rallied back and took a three-point lead until Lilly Jr.’s three with 5.8 seconds remaining tied the game at 61. The Bears did now allow the Crimson to get a shot off and forced overtime.

Harvard shot 57.7 percent from the field in the second.

OVERTIME
A back-and-forth period gave the Crimson a one-possession lead before Lilly Jr. again erased the visitor’s lead with a driving layup with 2:42 to go.

The perimeter defense stymied the Crimson and allowed just one three-pointer, and overall, held Harvard to two field goals before the final second layup.

Lesburt Jr.’s three and ensuing celebration are sure to go viral as the sophomore’s second three-pointer of the game was the eventual game-winner.

NEXT UP
Brown hosts Dartmouth in the Pizz tomorrow at 6 p.m. following the women’s basketball game vs. Cornell.

Before the 6 p.m. tip, the men will honor Kimo Ferrari, Felix Kloman and Malachi Ndur for their contributions to the men’s basketball program, along with two senior student managers.