TORONTO, Ontario – Sophomore forward
Chisom Okpara scored 19 points, and junior guard
Tyler Simon netted 16 points, but Harvard University men's basketball dropped a 68-65 decision to the University of Toronto on Friday night at the Kimel Family Field House at the Goldring Centre.
In the fourth and final game of its 2023 Canada Foreign Tour, the Crimson led 32-28 at halftime, took a 60-58 lead with 3:30 left, and tied the score at 65-65 with 18.1 seconds remaining before the Varsity Blues hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Okpara hit 7-of-14 field goals as part of his 19-point effort, leading the Crimson with 15.0 points per game over the four-game foreign tour. Simon made 5-of-8 field goals and 4-of-7 3-pointers as part of his 16 points, adding eight rebounds, five steals, and three assists.
Harvard Highlights
- Sophomore forward Chisom Okpara tallied 19 points, six rebounds, and three assists, while connecting on 7-of-14 field goals. He led the Crimson with 15.0 points per game over the four-game tour alongside 6.5 rebounds per game.
- Junior guard Tyler Simon posted 16 points, eight rebounds, five steals, and three assists, while making 5-of-8 field goals, 4-of-7 3-pointers, and 2-of-2 free throws. He averaged 11.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.5 steals per game over the course of the trip.
- Junior guard Evan Nelson notched 10 points and three assists, connecting on 2-of-4 3-pointers. He registered 12.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and a team-high 3.8 assists per game on the tour.
- Senior forward Justice Ajogbor contributed six points, six rebounds, and three blocks. He paced the Crimson with 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, while adding 8.3 points per game.
- Playing in his hometown, senior forward Josh Hemmings tacked on six rebounds and four points, grabbing 5.0 boards per game over two contests on the week.
- Sophomore guard Chandler Piggé chipped in five points, averaging 9.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game on the trip.
- Sophomore center Matt Filipowski scored five points, finishing the tour with 6.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Gallery: (8-25-2023) Men's Basketball at Toronto
How It Happened
- Harvard opened the game with a 17-10 lead at the end of the first quarter as Simon connected on a half-court shot at the buzzer to extend the visitor's lead.
- The Crimson remained ahead 32-28 at halftime with Piggé hitting a 3-pointer at the buzzer. In the first half, Nelson (seven points, three assists), Simon (six points, six rebounds), and Okpara (six points, four boards) paced Harvard.
- Harvard trailed 52-47 through three quarters as the Varsity Blues outscored the Crimson, 24-15, in the third frame.
- The Crimson opened the fourth quarter on an 11-3 run, pulling ahead 58-55 with 5:46 left. A jumper from Okpara kept Harvard up 60-58 with 3:30 to go.
- With Toronto up 65-62 inside of the final minute, Simon connected on a 3-pointer to tie the score at 65-65 with 18.1 seconds left. The Varsity Blues then hit a 3-pointer to win the game at the buzzer.
Sights of Canada
- In the morning on Friday, the Crimson visited CN Tower – the tallest free-standing structure on land in the Western Hemisphere – to begin its final full day in Canada.
Next Up
Harvard opens its 2023-24 regular season when it hosts UMass Boston on Monday, Nov. 6 at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+) at Lavietes Pavilion.
