The University of San Francisco men's basketball says goodbye to 2019 when a home contest against the Harvard Crimson on Monday night at 6:00 p.m.  The Dons (11-3) and Crimson (8-4) will tip off at 6:00 p.m. part of a Monday double header.  The women host Pacific at 2:00 p.m.  Monday's contest will be streamed live on the WCC Network with Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli on the call.  As always, you can tune in the home of USF Dons Basketball, KNBR 1050-AM, to hear all the action live from courtside.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Dec. 30, 2019 – 6:00 p.m.
Opponent: Harvard Crimson (8-4, 0-0 Ivy League)
Site: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
TV:  The WCC Network
Talent: Pat Olson (play-by-play) and Jim Brovelli (analyst)
Radio:  KNBR 1050-AM
Talent: Pat Olson (play-by-play) and Jim Brovelli (analyst)
Live Stats: Statboradcast.com
 
USF AT A GLANCE
•  USF is 11-3 on the year - they are one of six teams from the West Coast Conference who has already won at least 10 games.  For the third time in the last four years the Dons won their 10th game by the 13th game of the season.
 
• Last time out: The Dons rallied back from eight down with 1:44 to play to defeat Fresno State 71-69 on the road.  Khalil Shabazz scored 11 of his team-high 17 points in the final two minutes and 10 seconds of the contest.
 
• The Dons are back on the Hilltop where they are 8-1 this season...on the Hilltop, USF averages 86.9 points per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field...their opponents are averaging 71.6 ppg, while shooting 43.8 percent from the floor.
 
• Versus the IVY:  Monday's match-up will be the Dons third against an IVY league foe, USF is 2-0 this season with wins over Princeton and Yale.  All-time the Dons are 14-2 against the Ivy League.  The Dons are averaging 83.0 ppg in their previous match-ups against the Ivy League with Jamaree Bouyea averaging 20.0 ppg. 
 
• Scoring Abundance:  The Dons are led by coach Golden - the defensive coordinator from last year's team. This year the Dons are scoring.  A lot.  USF is 13th in the nation averaging 82.2 points per game - they are 58th in the nation with a +11.4 scoring margin. 
 
• From the Field:  USF is shooting .454 percent from the field - they have three games this season where they have shot .500 or better three times this season. USF is 10-1 when shooting .400 or better, the lone loss came at Hawaii.
 
• Non-Conference Success: With the Dons 11-3 mark - they are now 46-19 (.707) over the last four years including postseason. 
 
THE SERIES VS. HARVARD
Monday will be the four time the Dons and Crimson have squared off and second time in as many years.  All-time the Dons are 3-0 against Harvard - with all three wins coming on the Hilltop.  The series dates back to Jan. 2, 1969 with the Dons coming away with a narrow 65-63 win over Harvard.  Last time out, USF defeated Harvard at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center 61-57 on Nov. 21, 2018.
 
About the Crimson
Harvard, who takes on the California Golden Bears on Sunday, comes to the Bay Area with an 8-4 record, on the road they are 3-1.  As a team, they are averaging 73.0 points per game while surrendering 64.0 points per game.  They are shooting .453 percent while holding opponents to a .406 shooting percentage.  Harvard returned 96.7 percent of its scoring from last season which is fourth most in the NCAA - they currently have three players averaging 10 or more a game and are led by Noah Kirkwood's 11.4 points per contest.
 
Last Time Out Versus Harvard
On Nov. 21, 2018 the Crimson battled the Dons in a tight contest.  USF went into the locker room with a comfortable 32-21 lead but Harvard came back in the second half and shot 42 percent from the field while holding USF to 27.6 percent from the floor including a 2-9 mark from 3-point range.  USF shot poorly from beyond the arc all evening going 2-for-18.  Harvard's Chris Lewis finished with 16 points.  The Dons had four players in double figures and were led by Jamaree Bouyea and Frankie Ferrari.  Ferrari was cold from the field going just 2-for-10 but he was 9-for-12 from the free throw line. Matt McCarthy had a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds coming off the bench for the Dons.
 
UP NEXT
The Dons will stay at home and begin WCC play when Bay Area rival Saint Mary's comes to the Hilltop on Thursday, January 2.  Thursday's game will be televised national on ESPNU with Roxy Bernstein and Corey Williams on the call.  Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli will have the Dons' radio call on KNBR 1050-AM.  The first 1,000 fans in attendance will get a free Bill Cartwright bobblehead courtesy of the Organic Coup.