HAVERFORD, Pa. – A stifling defense from the Haverford College men's basketball team prevailed over visiting Ursinus Tuesday evening, 68-63. The 63 points allowed by Haverford matches its season low allowed on the year, tying the mark from the season opening win against Bard. Haverford's victory was the first against Ursinus since a 93-52 win against the Bears during the 2012 season.
Matt Sherman led a trio of Haverford players to reach double figures with a team-high 22 points in Tuesday's win. Lucas Colombo recorded his second double-double of the season as he notched 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Justin Winkler added 10 points. Ursinus was led offensively by a game-high 24 points from Joseph Lostracco; however, the Fords did not let another Ursinus player reach double figures in the game.
Right out of the gates Haverford showcased its defensive tenacity. The visiting Bears scored seven of the first nine points in the game; however, the Fords would not allow another Ursinus point for the next 8:09 of playing time. During that defensive lockdown, Haverford ran off 18 unanswered points to jump in front 20-7 midway through the opening half. Half of those points came from Sherman as he was outscoring the Bears 9-7 midway through the first half.
The Bears slowly clawed their way back into the game, dwindling Haverford's edge down to just six points. However, a three-pointer from Sherman cued a Haverford offensive spurt, allowing the Fords to score 10 of the final 13 points in the half and match their largest lead of the opening 20 minutes with a 33-20 lead at the break. The 20 points allowed by Haverford in the opening half was the fewest the Fords have allowed in a single half since limiting Swarthmore to 20 points in the opening half of last year's 70-59 win on the road. Matt Sherman finished the opening half with 15 points.
Starting the second half up 13 points, the Fords held a double digit lead over Ursinus all the way up until there was just 4:22 remaining on the game clock. Haverford's lead grew to as many as 20 points during the second half when the Fords ran off eight straight points, five of which came from James Levine. Levine added the final touches to that run with a free throw that made the game 56-36 with 10:23 left in the contest.
With 5:18 remaining in the game, Haverford was still holding a 13-point edge. However, the Bears would go to work down low as Lostracco attempted to fuel a comeback bid from the visiting Bears with nine points during Ursinus' 13-3 run late. His final basket of the evening made the score 66-63 with 59 seconds left in regulation.
Once again, it was the defense's time to shine. After the Fords were stopped on the offensive end, Gibby Graves came up with two of his three steals on the night in the Bears' final two possessions to solidify the victory. Shooting free throws at the other end, Levine and Sherman each knocked down one of their tries to cap off the 68-63 win.
The Fords led for the last 34:24 of the game after Winkler knocked down an early jumper during the 18-0 run. Despite finishing with a slightly lower shooting percentage for the game, the Fords doubled up Ursinus in three-pointers made and added 18 points at the free throw line.
Men's basketball will now close out the month of January this Saturday with a trip to Johns Hopkins. That game is set for a 1 p.m. tip. Saturday's contest will be a doubleheader with the women's team, but it will be the women with the later 3 p.m. tip. The Fords will be looking for some revenge on the men's side after a heart-breaking 80-78 loss on a buzzer beater during the Blue Jays' trip to Haverford earlier this month.