HOUSTON -- Wesley Saunders scored 18 points and Harvard defeated Rice 69-54 Saturday night to give Tommy Amaker his best start in his seven seasons as the Crimson's head coach.

The Crimson improved to 13-1 in winning its ninth consecutive game. It's the longest winning streak for the Crimson since winning nine straight in 2011-2012. Harvard had a 19-1 start that included 13 consecutive victories during the 1945-46 season.

Brandyn Curry added a season-high 16 points, Kyle Casey 14 and Jonah Travis 10 for the Crimson, who have won three straight Ivy League championships.

Rice (5-8), playing its final nonconference game before Conference USA action begins, dropped its third straight game. Keith Washington scored 11 points for the Owls.

Harvard led the entire way, was up by six at halftime, and went up by double figures for good with 4:23 left at 60-49 on a Curry 3-pointer.