CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Men's Basketball hosts Furman University for its Youth Game on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 3:00 p.m. (ESPN+) at Lavietes Pavilion as part of a doubleheader with Harvard Women's Basketball on World Basketball Day as the Crimson returns from the finals break.

What to Know

• Harvard will host its annual Youth Game in its matchup with Furman on Saturday with youth fans enjoying face painting, free posters, and a postgame autograph session.
• The United Nations General Assembly in 2023 adopted a resolution proclaiming December 21 as "World Basketball Day." It was on that date in 1891 that basketball was played for the first time at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, after Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian physical education instructor, developed the game to keep his students active during the winter months. The NCAA has again joined in the celebration of World Basketball Day, showcasing the role basketball plays in bringing people together and uniting communities around the world.
• First-year guard Robert Hinton earned Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors for the third time in the season's first five weeks on Dec. 9 after leading the Crimson with 17.0 points per game in matchups against Holy Cross and UNH. Hinton tallied 17.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 assists per game on the week, while shooting 50.0 percent from the field (13-of-26) and 80.0 percent from the free throw line (8-of-10). He scored a game-high 19 points with eight rebounds against Holy Cross and netted a team-high 15 points in a 72-62 win at New Hampshire.
• In Harvard's last game before the finals break, junior guard Chandler Piggé totaled 14 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and four steals, first-year guard Robert Hinton scored a team-high 15 points to lead four Crimson in double figures, and Harvard used a second-half surge to beat New Hampshire, 72-62, on Dec. 8 at Lundholm Gymnasium.
• First-year guard Robert Hinton has averaged 16.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game on the year, while shooting 47.3 percent from the field. Hinton has earned Ivy League Rookie of the Week three times (Nov. 11, Nov. 25, Dec. 9) on the season. In the NCAA, Hinton ranks 12^th among first-years in points per game (16.0) and seventh in field goals made per game (6.2). In the Ivy League, he stands fifth in points per game (16.0) and field goals made (62). Hinton has scored in double figures seven times on the year. He made an immediate impact in his debut, scoring 27 points on 9-of-12 field goals and 8-of-10 free throws vs. Marist (Nov. 4). He then dropped 26 points and eight boards at Navy (Nov. 8) before netting 19 points at American (Nov. 10). He notched 19 points and eight boards at Holy Cross (Dec. 4). Hinton totaled 18 points, nine rebounds, and five assists in the win over Colgate (Nov. 22).
• Junior guard Chandler Piggé – the Ivy League's rebounding leader – has notched 12.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game on the year. He has steadily increased his production over his career after averaging 1.9 points per game in 2022-23 and 8.1 points per game in 2023-24. Among players standing 6-foot-5 or shorter, Piggé ranks sixth in the nation in rebounds per game (7.7). Piggé ranks first in the Ivy League in rebounds per game (7.7), third in steals per game (1.5), third in minutes per game (33.1), and 16^th in points per game (12.1). He has scored in double figures in seven games on the year. He notched 16 points and nine rebounds vs. Colgate (Nov. 22) after scoring 17 points with six rebounds at Northeastern (Nov. 13). Against St. John's (Nov. 30), he totaled 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Piggé registered 16 points and eight rebounds at Navy (Nov. 8) and notched 14 points, nine boards, five assists, and four steals at UNH (Dec. 8). He grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds at Holy Cross (Dec. 4). He posted 8.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game last winter.
• Sophomore forward Thomas Batties II has averaged 9.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game on the year, while shooting 39.4 percent from 3-point distance. He ranks third in the Ivy League and 62^nd in the NCAA in blocks per game (1.7), while standing fourth in the conference in minutes per game (32.4). He matched his career high with 17 points vs. Colgate (Nov. 22) before scoring a game-high 16 points vs. UMass (Nov. 27). Batties II scored a career-high 17 points and posted career highs in 3-pointers made (five) and blocks (four) at Navy (Nov. 8). He registered 6.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on the 2023-24 season.
• Senior guard Evan Nelson has contributed 8.8 points, 2.6 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game on the year, while shooting 38.9 percent from 3-point distance. Nelson has scored in double figures in each of his last three games. He netted 15 points at American (Nov. 10) and scored 14 points with five assists at Holy Cross (Dec. 4). Nelson scored 11 points at Colorado (Nov. 17) and at St. John's (Nov. 30) prior to posting 10 points and four steals at UNH (Dec. 9). Nelson returned for the Crimson after missing the 2023-24 season due to injury. As a sophomore in 2022-23, he averaged 8.4 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 38.8 percent from 3-point distance.
• Senior guard Louis Lesmond has registered 8.8 points and 2.4 rebounds per game after missing the year's first five games. Lesmond scored a season-high 13 points at NUH (Dec. 8) and netted 11 points at St. John's (Nov. 30). Over his last three games, he has posted 11.0 points per game. He averaged 9.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game last season, while shooting 37.9 percent from 3-point distance. He ranked fourth in the Ivy League in total 3-pointers made (64) and fifth in 3-pointers per game (2.4). Lesmond made three or more 3-pointers in each of 13 games on the year and scored in double figures 15 times.
• First-year guard Tey Barbour has notched 6.3 points and 2.4 rebounds per game on the year. Barbour netted 11 points and hit 3-of-6 3-pointers vs. Colgate (Nov. 22). He scored 10 points at Colorado (Nov. 17) for his first collegiate game in double figures.
• First-year guard Dutch Dowdell has netted 3.4 points per game on the year and has scored 10 points in each of two games – at Northeastern (Nov. 13) and at Colorado (Nov. 17).
• First-year guard Ben Eisendrath has dished out 2.0 assists per game. He distributed a career-high five assists at Northeastern (Nov. 13).
• Sophomore forward Luca Ace-Nasteski has chipped in 3.6 points and 2.6 rebounds per game on the year. He netted nine points on 4-of-6 shooting against Marist (Nov. 4). He compiled 2.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per game a season ago.
• As a team, Harvard ranks 38^th in the NCAA in fewest fouls per game (14.8). In the Ivy League, the Crimson stands first in free throw percentage (74.3), third in steals per game (7.10), and fourth in blocks per game (3.00).
• Harvard and Furman will meet for the second time in series history. The Paladins took a narrow 60-59 decision in the teams' first meeting on Jan. 1, 1960.

Next Up

Harvard plays at Iona University on Sunday, Dec. 29 at 1:00 p.m. (ESPN+) at the Hynes Athletic Center in its final road non-league game of the season.