Harvard 70, Monmouth (NJ) 61

Published Jan. 10, 2012 9:50 p.m. ET

foxsports

Keith Wright scored 18 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead Harvard over Monmouth (N.J.) 70-61 on Tuesday night.

The Crimson (14-2) scored 40 points in the paint and shot 49 percent from the field (25 of 51).

Harvard never trailed, and led 57-56 with 6:27 remaining before going on a 9-0 run. Brandyn Curry scored the first five points, and Oliver McNally finished the spurt with four straight.

Laurent Rivard added 16 points for Harvard, which beat Monmouth 74-68 on Dec. 29, 2010 in the two teams' only other meeting.

Harvard, which won its school record 13th non-conference game of the season, outrebounded the Hawks 41-31.

Jesse Steele paced Monmouth (3-14) with 16 points. Marcus Ware added 14 and Mike Myers Keitt 10 for the Hawks, which scored 18 points off 15 turnovers.

Monmouth lost for the sixth time in its last seven games.