CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Sophomore forward
Chisom Okpara led four Crimson in double figures with 22 points, junior guard
Louis Lesmond scored a career-high 16 points, and first-year forward
Thomas Batties II posted his second straight double-double as Harvard University men's basketball beat the University at Albany, 76-71, on Tuesday night at Lavietes Pavilion.
Closing a four-game homestand with its non-conference finale and first game of the 2024 calendar year, the Crimson (9-4) never trailed against the Great Danes (8-7), building a lead as large as 13 points, gaining a 39-30 edge at halftime, and holding off a second-half rally from the visitors to improve to 6-1 at home on the season.
Okpara scored 20 or more points for the fifth time this year and made a career-high four steals while Lesmond added six rebounds and three steals to his 16-point effort. Batties II finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for the second straight game, marking the first time in his collegiate career that he posted consecutive double-doubles. Sophomore guard
Chandler Piggé tallied 11 points and five rebounds alongside career highs in steals (five) and assists (four) to round out the Crimson's double-figure scorers.
Harvard Highlights
- Sophomore forward Chisom Okpara scored a team-high 22 points, connecting on 7-of-12 field goals and making a career-high four steals. He eclipsed the 20-point plateau for the fifth time this year and sixth time in his career, while scoring in double figures for the 11th time this season and 20th time in his career.
- Junior guard Louis Lesmond scored a career-high 16 points to go with six rebounds and a career-high three steals. He converted 6-of-10 field goals and 2-of-5 3-pointers on his way to his seventh double-figure scoring game this season and 14th of his career.
- First-year forward Thomas Batties II – the reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Week – posted his second consecutive double-double behind 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, notching his third double-double of the year and fourth double-figure scoring game.
- Sophomore guard Chandler Piggé totaled 11 points, five rebounds, a career-high five steals, and a career-best four assists. He compiled his fifth double-figure scoring game of the season and led the Crimson in assists for the first time this year.
- First-year forward Luca Ace-Nasteski added eight points and six rebounds, while making 3-of-4 field goals.
- Harvard led 38-9 in bench points.
Gallery: (1-2-2024) Men's Basketball vs. UAlbany
How It Happened
- With the score tied at 14-14 with 11:49 remaining in the first half, the Crimson scored six straight points, including four from Okpara to move ahead 20-14 at the 9:32 mark.
- After the Great Danes pulled within 24-22 with 6:42 left in the half, Harvard responded with a 13-2 run to move ahead 37-24 – its largest lead of the game – with 3:32 to go until the break. Dunks from Okpara and Ace-Nasteski and a 3-pointer from Lesmond capped the streak.
- The Crimson maintained a 39-30 advantage at halftime. Okpara scored 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the first half with Harvard holding a 20-0 edge in bench points.
- Treys from junior guard Tyler Simon and Piggé helped keep the hosts up 53-45 with 13:27 to play before the visitors trimmed the margin to 55-54 with 11:05 to go.
- The Crimson answered each of UAlbany's attempts at a rally inside of the final 10 minutes. A jumper from Lesmond kept Harvard up 62-58 with 6:22 left, two free throws from Okpara made it 68-63 with 4:43 to play, and back-to-back buckets from Batties II pushed the margin to 73-68 with 2:16 remaining.
- A free throw from Lesmond with 21 seconds left gave Harvard back a two-possession lead at 74-70 before two free throws from Simon with a second to go iced the win.
Postgame Quotes
- "I'm really proud of our guys for bouncing back after a home loss over the weekend… I thought the way the kids responded and wanted to make sure that we put our best foot forward here at home, it was obvious that they took it to heart." – Tommy Amaker, The Thomas G. Stemberg '71 Family Endowed Coach for Harvard Men's Basketball
- "I thought Chisom Okpara coming off the bench for us really gave us the shot in the arm that we needed. He played exceptionally well other than his free throw shooting. I'm really pleased for our team and how they responded." – Coach Amaker
- "I think it's pretty important to protect the home court first, bounce back from last game's loss, get a good team win, be all together, and be ready for the Ivy League coming up." – Louis Lesmond
Next Up
Harvard opens Ivy League play at Princeton on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+/SNY/NBC Sports Philadelphia).
