AMHERST — Donte Clark’s 3-pointers and free throw shooting carried the University of Massachusetts most of the way as the Minutemen took a 70-66 victory over Harvard in a nonconference basketball game Saturday.
But it was an improvised 3-point possession off Clark’s only foul shot miss that ended up deciding the contest. The possession was set up after Clark had been stripped on a shot, then fouled freshman Seth Towns, whose two free throws cut Harvard’s deficit to 65-64 with 18 seconds remaining. Clark (29 points) drew a foul and connected with his first shot. Then, he tracked down the miss of his second free throw attempt — setting himself up for two more foul shots and a 68-64 UMass edge with 11 seconds left.
“I took off like I was in a track meet — I knew it was going left, so I just went and got it,’’ Clark said of rebounding his miss.
Said UMass coach Derek Kellogg: “I preach to these guys, probably as much as anything, about winning a game on a free throw block out, or a missed free throw block out. They can tell you that’s the one thing that, for however many years, I’ve been preaching. And it’s kind of funny when it actually happens that way.
“I’m anticipating he’s going to have to make big plays in probably about 15 more games, the way these games are going.’’
Harvard (1-3) struggled down the stretch. The Crimson took a 54-50 lead on Siyani Chambers’s 3-pointer with 6:35 remaining but converted only three more field goals after that, including a Chambers layup at the buzzer.
Meanwhile, Clark compensated for the loss of UMass assist leader Dejon Jarreau, expected to miss at least four weeks with a broken foot, and Chris Baldwin (broken nose) with some spectacular shooting.
Clark led a rally for a 58-54 lead, the Minutemen (4-1) shutting out Harvard over a 3:50 span that included three successive foul shot misses by the Crimson’s Zena Edosomwan.
Clark scored 13 points over a 4:27 period, including three 3-pointers. One of those threes was converted off the dribble, another from in front of the scorers’ table at the shot-clock buzzer. Clark’s foul shot upped the lead to 65-57 with 1:26 to play.
“When I’m feeling it, I think I can pretty much do anything out there,’’ Clark said. “It comes from defense. That’s really what gets me going, getting stops on defense.’’
But Harvard stayed in contention as Towns (17 points) hit two free throws off an offensive rebound and sophomore Corey Johnson sank a 3-pointer to cut the Crimson deficit to 65-62 with a minute left.
Following two free throw misses by UMass’s C.J. Anderson, Harvard squandered a chance to pull closer as Chambers drove but missed connecting with Robert Baker. Towns then pulled Harvard within a point of the lead, before Clark finished things off.
“Give him credit for making that big, winning play,’’ Harvard coach Tommy Amaker said of Clark. “No way that should happen with four of our guys in the lane and he’s the only person in the lane for their team, and he’s the shooter. We just kind of fell asleep and didn’t block off the shooter, for whatever reason.’’
Clark shot 4 for 8, his teammates 2 for 17 on 3-pointers. Clark was 13 for 14, his teammates 5 for 15, on free throws.
“He made some tough shots,’’ Amaker said of Clark. “Twenty-nine points, 13 for 14 at the foul line, and the one shot he missed he tracks down, arguably the biggest play of the game.
“We didn’t take care of the ball — 19 turnovers really killed us and hurt us. I thought we made some inexperienced kind of mistakes and we’re probably going to have a lot this year, with as many young guys as we’re playing. Pleased with the effort, spirit of our team, and we’re going to use this to get better.’’
