CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Sophomore forward
Chisom Okpara scored a team-high 18 points, but Harvard University men's basketball fell at Princeton University, 89-58, on Saturday afternoon at Jadwin Gymnasium in the Ivy League opener for both teams.
The Crimson (9-5, 0-1 Ivy) held a 28-25 lead with 4:18 left in the first half and remained within 46-41 with 15:05 left before the host Tigers (13-1, 1-0 Ivy) pulled away in the second half.
Okpara scored his 18 points on 7-of-10 field goals and 3-of-4 free throws. Sophomore guard
Chandler Piggé posted 13 points and six rebounds, first-year forward
Thomas Batties II grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, and first-year guard
Malik Mack distributed a team-best four assists in his first game action since Dec. 8.
Harvard Highlights
- Sophomore forward Chisom Okpara registered a team-high 18 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks, while making 7-of-10 field goals, 1-of-2 3-pointers, and 3-of-4 free throws. He scored in double figures for the 12th time this year and 21st time in his career. He led the Crimson in scoring for the eighth time this season.
- Sophomore guard Chandler Piggé posted 13 points and six rebounds, while connecting on 6-of-9 field goals. He finished in double figures for the sixth time this season.
- In his first game action since Dec. 8, first-year guard Malik Mack added eight points, four rebounds, and a team-best four assists.
- First-year forward Thomas Batties II contributed seven points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Gallery: (1-6-2024) Men's Basketball at Princeton
How It Happened
- The Crimson opened the game with an 11-5 lead at the 15:54 mark of the first half following back-to-back buckets from Piggé.
- After Princeton took a 14-13 edge, Harvard used an 8-0 run to pull back ahead, 21-14, with 8:48 left in the first half. Batties II and junior guard Tyler Simon each hit 3-pointers during the streak.
- Harvard remained ahead 28-25 with 4:18 to go until the break before Princeton used a 16-4 run to close the half and move ahead 41-32 at halftime.
- A 9-3 run from the Crimson, including a 3-pointer from Lesmond and four points from Okpara, whittled the margin to 46-41 with 15:05 remaining. Princeton countered with an 11-0 run to move up 57-41 with 12:51 to play. The Crimson could pull no closer than 13 points the rest of the way.
Next Up
Harvard hosts Brown in its Ivy League home opener on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Monday, Jan. 15 – at 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+).
