CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – UC Irvine trailed by as much as 19 points in the second half and rallied within two, 67-65, before eventually falling to Harvard, 77-73, Saturday at Lavietes Pavilion.

Eyassu Worku made three-straight three's within the final four minutes to erase a double-digit deficit for the Anteaters bringing them within two, 67-65, with 2:27 remaining. Harvard would make a jumper and 2-4 free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win.

Worku finished with a game-high 21 points, finishing a career-best 5-8 from long range. He shot 7-17 from the field overall.

UCI ends the non-conference season with an 8-8 record while Harvard improves to 13-4 overall.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Collin Welp had his third career double-double behind 17 points and a team-best 10 rebounds. He was 6-11 shooting from the floor
> Tommy Rutherford and Eyassu Worku also finished in double-digits scoring 14 points apiece
> Worku also tacked on four boards and four assists to his 21 points
> For the first time this season, UCI was a perfect 16-of-16 from the free throw line
> UCI shot a season-high 52.9 percent (9-17) from the three-point arc and went 24-60 (.400) from the field overall
> The Anteaters out-rebounded the Crimson 35-31
> Harvard was led by Christian Juzang with 15 points and five assists. The Crimson shot 47.2 percent (25-53) from the field overall
> UCI committed 11 turnovers in the first half but only two in the second frame

TURNING POINTS
First Half
> Harvard jumped out to a 12-2 lead at the first media timeout (16:10) and led by double figures the rest of the half
> The Crimson went up by 13, 19-6, before Jeron Artest made a three-pointer to make it 19-9 with 10:16 remaining
> The 'Eaters would stay within 10, 23-13, at 5:47 but Harvard used a 12-7 run down the stretch to take a 14-point, 35-21, lead into the locker rooms
> Rutherford and Worku led the 'Eaters with six points each
> UCI only shot 23.6 percent from the field but was a perfect  8-8 from the free throw line

Second Half
> Harvard stretched its lead to 19, 57-38, with 10:27 to play
> Welp scored nine-straight points to bring the Anteaters with 13, 63-50, with 6:41 remaining
> At 4:59, Rutherford made two free throws to start a 10-0 run for the 'Eaters to bring them within three, 65-62 (2:58)
> Worku's three at 2:27 made it 67-65 but the Crimson used a 5-1 run to stretch the lead to six, 73-67, with 1:07 left
> Leonard hit a three with five seconds remaining to make it 76-73 but a flagrant foul gave the Crimson a made free throw to seal the win

NOTES
> UCI falls to 2-1 all-time against the Crimson
> The Anteaters finish the non-conference season with a .500 record or better for the fifth time under head coach Russell Turner
> Turner is one win away from tying Pat Douglass for the most career wins at UCI (197)
> Welp tallied his second double-double of the season
> Rutherford is 10 points away from hitting 1,000 on his career

UP NEXT
> UCI opens Big West Conference play against Hawaii Saturday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. in the Bren Events Center