2013 NCAA Tournament: Falls Church Native Leads Harvard to First Tournament Win

With a roster of players all under 6-foot-10 and a freshman point guard leading the way, Harvard University stunned the University of New Mexico 68-62 on Thursday night in the second round of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Tournament.

Harvard was the No. 14 seed in the Western Region bracket; New Mexico was the third.

Tommy Amaker, a Falls Church native and head coach of the Harvard Crimson, lead the team to their first NCAA tournament win in school history. Harvard used their speed and three-point shooting to defeat the Lobos.

On Thursday afternoon, Amaker’s mother, Alma Amaker, said her son’s team needed to shoot more three pointers to win.

The Crimson will move onto play against the sixth seeded University of Arizona on Saturday in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Harvard led the Lobos 37-35 at the half and played a close game throughout the second half before icing the game in the final seconds with foul shots and a steal to close out New Mexico.

“I’m exceptionally proud of our guys,” Amaker said during a televised postgame interview on TBS. “I’m very proud.”

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