CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Kevin Reed scored a career-high 36 points, but two of the sophomore guard’s biggest plays came on the defensive end late in the game as the University of Maine men’s basketball team held off Harvard 89-78 at Lavietes Pavilion Tuesday night.

Reed made two steals in the final 1:30, the first after the Crimson had pulled within six points.

Maine’s Eric Dobson hit three free throws sandwiched around a pair by Harvard’s Kevin Rogus to make it 85-78, and Reed made his second big steal – his sixth of the game – and hit two more free throws to push the lead back up to nine.

Jon Wallingford added two more free throws for the Bears in the closing seconds to complete the scoring.

Dobson added 12 points for the Bears, and center Mark Flavin posted a dozen points and five rebounds. The Bears’ other post player, David Dubois, had nine points and eight rebounds, and Joe Campbell of Bangor contributed eight points, three steals, and three rebounds, including a big offensive board with 1:01 to go that allowed Maine to run more time off the clock.

Reed’s previous high was 30 points in the season opener last year against UM-Fort Kent.

Kevin Rogus paced the Crimson with 22 points, Matt Stehle recorded 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Michael Beal and Jason Norman had 10 points each.

Maine, 4-1 and winner of four straight, has two weeks before its next game, hosting Dartmouth, the Bears’ third Ivy League opponent this season, on Dec. 16.

Maine shot 48 percent from the floor for the game, compared to 45 percent for Harvard, and Maine edged the Crimson by one on the boards, 33-32.

In the first half, Reed had the hot hand as he scored 24 points, including 4-of-5 shooting on 3-pointers. Flavin added 10 points.

The Bears shot 71 percent (17 of 24) from the floor and also held a 16-11 rebounding edge.

Stehle was the first-half leader for the Crimson with 11 points.

Maine jumped out to a 21-9 lead early and a later run pushed the margin to 57-34 late in the half, but a 6-0 run at the end trimmed the halftime lead to 57-40.

Stronger defensive pressure in the second half slowed the Bears’ offense considerably, limiting Maine to 30 percent shooting (6-for-20) through the first 15 minutes, but the Bears hit seven of eight free throws in the last minute to preserve the win.

BLACK BEARS 89, CRIMSON 78

Maine (4-1) Harvard (0-4)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Dubois 3 5 3 6 9 Stehle 9 13 20

Campbell 2 5 2 2 8 Norman 4 11 10

Dobson 3 5 6 10 12 Beatty 1 6 2

Petkus 2 7 1 2 7 Rogus 6 13 22

Reed 11 20 8 8 36 Beal 3 5 4 10

Wallingford 1 5 2 2 5 Goffredo 3 7

Flavin 2 3 8 9 12 Yada 0 1 0

Bruff 0 0 0 0 0 Giovacchini 0 0

Martin 1 2 2 4

McCrone 1 2 0 3

Totals 24 50 30 39 89 28 62 13 15 78

Maine 57 89

Harvard 40 78

3-pt. goals ? Maine (11-23): Campbell 2-3, Petkus 2-6, Reed 6-10, Wallingford 1-4; Harvard (9-25): Stehle 1-1, Norman 2-5, Rogus 4-10, Beal 0-1, Goffredo 1-6, Martin 0-1, McCrone 1-1

Attendance: 321