CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – First-year guard
Malik Mack scored 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting to lead four Crimson in double figures as Harvard University men's basketball bested Northeastern University, 80-56, on Tuesday night at Lavietes Pavilion.
Tipping off a three-game week of contests against Bay State teams, the Crimson (3-0) led 41-28 at halftime and extended its margin to as large as 37 points at 70-33, outscoring the visiting Huskies (1-2) 29-5 to open the second half. Harvard opens the year 3-0 for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
Mack netted his 22 points in 23 minutes, connecting on 9-of-11 field goals and 4-of-5 3-pointers, scoring over 20 points for the second straight game. Sophomore forward
Chisom Okpara (14 points), sophomore guard
Chandler Piggé (12 points), and junior guard
Louis Lesmond (10 points) all joined him in double figures.
Harvard Highlights
- First-year guard Malik Mack scored a game-high 22 points on 9-of-11 field goals and 4-of-5 3-pointers alongside six rebounds and three assists. The reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Week has scored in double figures in all three games this season and eclipsed the 20-point plateau in back-to-back outings.
- Sophomore forward Chisom Okpara posted 14 points and four rebounds, scoring in double figures for the second time in as many games played this year and for the 11th time in his career.
- Sophomore guard Chandler Piggé tallied 12 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks, while hitting 4-of-4 free throws. He scored in double figures for the second straight game.
- Junior guard Louis Lesmond added 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting with three boards. He finished in double figures for the first time this year and eighth time in his career.
- Senior forward Justice Ajogbor registered game highs in rebounds (11) and blocks (four). He set a new career high in rebounds and tied his career high in blocks.
- In the first 12:44 of the second half, the Crimson limited the Huskies to five points, outscoring Northeastern 29-5 during that stretch.
Gallery: (11-14-2023) Men's Basketball vs. Northeastern
How It Happened
- Holding an 11-9 lead to open the game, the Crimson used a 22-5 run to open up a 33-14 advantage with 6:24 to go in the first half. Balanced scoring from five different Crimson keyed the stretch.
- Harvard maintained a 41-28 lead at halftime with Mack scoring 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting in the first half.
- The Crimson began the second half with 13 consecutive points taking a 54-28 lead with 15:04 remaining. Lesmond and Mack each hit 3-pointers before Ajogbor capped the stretch with a dunk.
- Harvard extended the margin to 63-29 at the 13:08 mark as part of a 22-1 run as Mack hit a pair of 3-pointers and Piggé also knocked down a triple in another 9-0 burst.
- The hosts pushed the lead to as large as 37 points at 70-33 with 8:39 to play following a layup from Okpara.
- Inside of the final 4:12, first-year forward Thomas Batties II and sophomore guard Greg Cooper each made 3-pointers.
Postgame Quotes
"It's a point of emphasis in our program to play in-state opponents. I was really impressed with our team coming off of the stretch that we had in Houston. I was very pleased with the production, the balance, and how our guys were able to have great energy for this game here tonight." –
Tommy Amaker, The Thomas G. Stemberg '71 Family Endowed Coach for Harvard Men's Basketball
"I was really proud of us on the defensive end. It feels great. There is a mentality on our team though that we are not satisfied. We are happy for the way that we started, but we want to keep building. We have two more big games later this week with another Mass. game and another Boston game." –
Chandler Piggé
"It's been fun. I didn't know what to expect coming into college basketball, but my teammates put a lot of trust in me. I trust in them. It's been an easy transition so far being able to trust my guys. Let the game come to me – not try to force anything. Their trust in me has helped me build my own confidence." –
Malik Mack
Next Up
Harvard plays back-to-back games at Massachusetts on Nov. 17 at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+/NESN+) and at Boston College on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 5:00 p.m. (ESPN+/ACCNX).
