HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College men's basketball team (1-0) opened its 2026–27 season with a 72-71 win over Delaware Valley (0-1) Friday night at Calvin J. Gooding '84 Arena. In the first game of the Haverford/Swarthmore Invitational, the Fords built a 13-point second-half lead before holding off a late Aggies rally in a finish that came down to the final possession.
Haverford set an energetic tone from the opening tip. Gaven Marr knocked down a three-pointer off a Tyler Nolan assist on the Fords' first possession, and Adam Strong-Jacobson followed with a pair of layups to help the hosts move in front, 7-0. After Delaware Valley got on the board, Nolan connected from beyond the arc and Marr finished a fast break to make it 12-7. Strong-Jacobson then came up with a steal and converted a dunk in transition, capping the opening stretch with Haverford ahead, 14-7.
The Aggies responded with a run of their own, turning Haverford turnovers into baskets and eventually taking a 17-16 lead midway through the half. The teams traded the advantage from there, with neither side able to build more than a modest cushion. Haverford shot 48.1 percent from the field in the opening half, and the teams went to the locker room tied at 34.
The Fords came out of the break with renewed momentum and began to create separation. Haverford's largest scoring run of the night came in the second half, and the hosts steadily built their lead before Nolan's three-pointer with 4:38 remaining pushed the margin to 67-54. It was Haverford's largest lead of the game.
Delaware Valley answered quickly. Kamal Johnson hit a three-pointer to make it 69-61 with 3:44 left, and the Aggies continued to chip away as the clock wound down. Christian Uremovich finished inside to keep Haverford in front, 71-64, but Jeremiah Lee scored in transition and Johnson connected from deep again. Kionne Lang's layup brought Delaware Valley within one, 72-71, with just 47 seconds remaining.
After a Haverford turnover gave the Aggies a chance to take the lead, Lee's three-pointer with three seconds left missed, and Nolan secured the rebound to preserve the Fords' one-point edge. Nolan's attempt at the buzzer was also off target, but Haverford had done enough to secure the season-opening victory.
Nolan led the Fords with 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists, making four of his 10 attempts from beyond the arc. Strong-Jacobson recorded a double-double with 14 points and a team-high 10 rebounds, while Marr added 13 points, including three three-pointers. Uremovich chipped in nine points, and Raja Coleman contributed eight points and three assists.
Haverford shot 47.4 percent from the field and made 10 three-pointers. The Fords also made the most of Delaware Valley's miscues, scoring 24 points off turnovers and adding 15 fast-break points. Strong-Jacobson's 10 rebounds helped Haverford finish with a 41-36 edge on the glass.
Johnson paced Delaware Valley with 23 points, including four three-pointers, while Lee added 13 points and nine rebounds. Lang pulled down eight boards for the Aggies, who scored 20 second-chance points.
Haverford now returns to action Saturday for the second day of the Haverford/Swarthmore Invitational, facing Rutgers-Camden at Tarble Pavilion on the campus of Swarthmore. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.
