Harvard's first-ever appearance in the Top 25 may last only one week.
Boston University has a chance to make sure that's the case.
The No. 25 Crimson look to bounce back from their first loss of the season Saturday when they renew this local rivalry at the Terriers' Agganis Arena.
Harvard (8-1) made program history by reaching the rankings this week, also becoming the first Ivy League team to do so since Princeton in 1998.
But the achievement coincided with the Crimson's toughest challenge of the season. They hung within two points at halftime at No. 9 Connecticut on Thursday, but faded late in a 67-53 loss to the reigning national champions.
"I told our kids I was very pleased with the effort that we brought and we came here with the idea of winning," coach Tommy Amaker said. "We certainly have played with that kind of spirit. I'm very pleased with our ballclub and I think we have bright things in front of us."
The Crimson may not have too many more losses ahead of them on their regular-season schedule. After facing Boston University, they don't play again until hosting Florida Atlantic on Dec. 22, and they don't have any more games scheduled against ranked opponents.
BU hasn't beaten a ranked foe since 1959.
Amaker's team has relied on a balanced offense and a stout defense, holding five of its opponents under 50 points. Harvard only had 11 turnovers and 12 fouls Thursday.
"They are very disciplined and they don't take bad shots so we couldn't be relaxed," UConn's Jeremy Lamb said. "We just had to try our hardest for us to get the win. They're a good team."
Harvard struggled to score against the bigger, more athletic Huskies, shooting 36.0 percent. Leading scorer Keith Wright was 3 of 10 from the field, leaving Kyle Casey as the Crimson's only double-figures scorer Thursday with 12 points.
"We could have played better. We didn't play the way we have been in the season," Wright said. "We're definitely confident still. This doesn't kill our confidence."
The Terriers (4-5) also hope they can keep some momentum even though their four-game winning streak was snapped Wednesday with a 75-68 loss at Saint Joseph's.
They're looking to beat a neighboring school for the second straight weekend. Boston University beat Boston College for the first time since 1974 last Saturday, cruising to a 75-61 win by scoring 44 points in the second half.
Wins over Harvard have been far more common for the Terriers, who had won eight straight in the annual series before losing the last two years. The Crimson shot 54.0 percent in an 87-71 home win last Dec. 11.
Harvard will have to focus its defense on BU's Darryl Partin, who ranks second in the nation with 23.9 points per game. Partin had 27 against BC before getting 24 against Saint Joseph's, the fourth straight game he's scored at least that many.
This is the first of three games this season BU will play at Agganis Arena, which was built for hockey near the basketball team's smaller venue at Case Gym.
