CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Men's Basketball plays at Iona University in its final non-league road game of the season on Sunday, Dec. 29 at 1:00 p.m. (ESPN+) at the Hynes Athletics Center as the Crimson closes out the 2024 calendar year.

What to Know

• Harvard features five student-athletes that are averaging 9.0 points per game or better, including first-year guard Robert Hinton (14.9), junior guard Chandler Piggé (12.5), sophomore forward Thomas Batties II (9.9), senior guard Louis Lesmond (9.2), and senior guard Evan Nelson (9.0). The Crimson has tallied four double-figure scorers in each of five games this season, including in five of its last seven contests.
• First-year guard Robert Hinton has averaged 14.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game on the year, while shooting 45.7 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 18^th among first-years in points per game (14.9) and ninth in field goals made per game (5.8). In the Ivy League, he stands seventh in points per game (14.9) and  sixth in field goals made (64). 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 12.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.6 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 fifth in the nation in rebounds per game (7.8). Piggé ranks first in the Ivy League in rebounds per game (7.8), second in steals per game (1.6), third in minutes per game (33.4), and 13^th in points per game (12.5). He has scored in double figures in each of eight games on the year and has grabbed eight or more rebounds in each of eight contests on the season.
• Piggé notched 16 points and nine rebounds vs. Colgate (Nov. 22) after scoring 17 points with six rebounds at Northeastern (Nov. 13) He totaled 16 points, nine rebounds, and three steals vs. Furman (Dec. 21). 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 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game on the year, while shooting 40.5 percent from 3-point distance. He ranks third in the Ivy League and 79^th in the NCAA in blocks per game (1.5), while standing fourth in the conference in minutes per game (32.7). 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 notched 14 points and six boards vs. Furman (Dec. 21). He registered 6.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on the 2023-24 season.
• Senior guard Evan Nelson has contributed 9.0 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.5 rebounds per game on the year, while shooting 41.0 percent from 3-point distance. Nelson has scored in double figures in each of his last four games. He netted 15 points at American (Nov. 10) and scored 14 points with five assists at Holy Cross (Dec. 4). He notched 11 points and five assists vs. Furman (Dec. 21). 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. 8). 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 9.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game after missing the year's first five games. Over his last three games, he has posted 11.0 points per game with three games in double figures. Lesmond scored a season-high 13 points at UNH (Dec. 8) and netted 11 points against both St. John's (Nov. 30) and Furman (Dec. 21). 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 5.7 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 3.1 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 Austin Hunt has registered 5.3 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game over three games played. He missed eight games from Nov. 10 to Dec. 8 due to injury. Hunt scored nine points in his collegiate debut vs. Marist (Nov. 4) and tallied seven assists at Navy (Nov. 8).
• First-year guard Ben Eisendrath has dished out 1.8 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 35^th in the NCAA in fewest fouls per game (14.6) and 63^rd in free throw percentage (75.6). In the Ivy League, the Crimson stands first in free throw percentage (75.6), third in steals per game (6.91), and fourth in blocks per game (2.91).
• Harvard trails Iona in the all-time series, 0-3. The Gaels topped the Crimson in the 1994-95 season (82-57,) in 2021-22 (90-87, OT), and in 2023-24 (69-60).

Next Up

Harvard hosts Bowdoin College on Sunday, Jan. 5 at 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+) at Lavietes Pavilion in the Crimson's final non-conference game of the season.