INDIANAPOLIS – First-year guard
Malik Mack scored a team-high 27 points, and first-year forward
Thomas Batties II posted his first collegiate double-double on 10 points and 10 rebounds as Harvard University men's basketball held a lead at halftime before falling to Indiana University, 89-76, on Sunday afternoon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Playing at the home of the NBA's Indiana Pacers and closing out a four-game road swing, the Crimson (5-2) held a 40-39 lead at halftime and remained tied at 49-49 with 16:34 to play before the host Hoosiers (5-1) rallied in the second half to take the second-ever meeting between the two programs.
Mack scored over 20 points for the fourth time this season, making 8-of-16 field goals and 8-of-10 free throws as part of his 27-point effort. Batties registered double-figure rebounds for the first time in his collegiate career in his 10-point, 10-rebound double-double. Sophomore forward
Chisom Okpara (13 points) and junior guard
Louis Lesmond (10 points) joined the duo in double figures.
Harvard Highlights
- First-year guard Malik Mack scored a team-high 27 points, hitting 8-of-16 field goals and 8-of-10 free throws, while adding four rebounds and three assists. The nation's leading scorer among first-years, Mack eclipsed the 20-point mark for the fourth time this season and has scored in double figures in all seven games.
- Mack made eight or more field goals for the third time this season, converted three or more 3-pointers for the third time, and set a new career high with eight free throws made.
- First-year forward Thomas Batties II registered his first collegiate double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. He scored in double figures for the second time this year and grabbed double-digit rebounds for the first time in his career.
- Sophomore forward Chisom Okpara netted 13 points, hit 2-of-5 3-pointers, and added two assists. He scored in double figures for the fifth time this season and for the 14th time in his career.
- Junior guard Louis Lesmond posted 10 points and connected on 2-of-5 3-pointers. He finished in double figures for the fourth time this year and 11th time in his career.
Gallery: (11-26-2023) Men's Basketball at Indiana
How It Happened
- The Crimson held a 17-14 lead at the 12:22 mark of the first half. During that opening stretch, Okpara hit a pair of 3-pointers, senior forward Justice Ajogbor threw down a dunk, and Batties II made a trey.
- Harvard pushed the lead out to 24-18 with 9:33 to go in the half after back-to-back layups from Batties II and Okpara. The Hoosiers responded with an 18-7 run to move ahead 36-31 with 2:56 left in the opening half.
- The Crimson then scored nine of the final 12 points of the first half to take a 40-39 lead at halftime. Lesmond hit a pair of 3-pointers to start the spurt before Mack connected on a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
- Harvard remained ahead 45-41 early in the second half and kept the score tied at 49-49 with 16:34 to play in the second half.
- Mack scored nine points in the first five minutes of the second half as Harvard remained within 54-51 with 15:36 to go. Indiana then used a 9-0 run to move ahead 63-51 with 13:07 left.
- The Crimson cut the margin to seven points at 68-61 with 8:40 remaining but could pull no closer the rest of the way.
Postgame Quotes
"I'm so proud of our effort and how we fought. They have a very talented team, and a team that is going to be a hard team to beat, especially if they get the perimeter shooting like they were getting this afternoon. We were outmanned in the size department. Their team is so big, and their frontline Is so athletic. Obviously, we didn't have Justice in the second half, which made it difficult." –
Tommy Amaker, The Thomas G. Stemberg '71 Family Endowed Coach for Harvard Men's Basketball
"Malik is a really good player. I think he enjoys the system that we have and how we allow him to play. He warrants that. He's earned that. He's creative. He's dynamic. He is a floor leader in addition to being an outstanding scorer. He was very well coached throughout his time in high school and AAU. We kind of knew what we were getting when we recruited him, but certainly his shot making and play making has been much needed for our team." –
Tommy Amaker
Next Up
Harvard hosts American on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+) at Lavietes Pavilion before playing at Loyola Chicago on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT (ESPN+/NBC Sports Chicago Plus).
