NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Sophomore forward
Thomas Batties II tallied team highs in points (16), rebounds (eight), and blocks (six), first-year guard
Austin Hunt scored a career-high 16 points, and first-year guard
Tey Barbour netted a career-high 14 points as Harvard Men's Basketball beat Iona University, 67-61, on Sunday afternoon at the Hynes Athletics Center.
Playing in its final non-league road game of the season and its final game of the 2024 calendar year, the Crimson (4-8) used a 12-0 run in the second half to turn a 49-44 deficit with 8:56 to play into a 56-49 advantage with 5:13 left, holding onto the edge for the rest of the game on its way to the victory over the Gaels (4-9).
Batties II led the Crimson in scoring for the second time on the season and set a career high with six blocks while Hunt scored in double figures for the first time in his career and tallied 14 of his 16 points in the second half. Barbour netted 11 of his 14 points in the second half, and junior guard
Chandler Piggé joined the trio in double figures with 12 points. Harvard tallied four double-figure scorers for the sixth time in its last eight games.
In the second half, Harvard made 11-of-20 field goals (55.0 percent), 4-of-8 3-pointers (50.0 percent), and 15-of-17 free throws (88.2 percent), while limiting the Gales to 34.2 percent shooting from the field and 11.1 percent shooting from 3-point distance in the final 20 minutes.
Harvard Highlights
- Sophomore forward Thomas Batties II tallied a team-high 16 points, a team-best eight rebounds, a career and game-high six blocks, and two assists. He connected on 4-of-9 field goals, 1-of-2 3-pointers, and 7-of-8 free throws. Batties II scored in double figures for the fifth time this year and for the second straight game, while matching his career high in free throws made. He led the Crimson in scoring for the second time this year.
- First-year guard Austin Hunt scored a career-high 16 points for his first collegiate game in double figures, while adding three assists, two boards, and two steals. He hit 5-of-9 field goals and 5-of-6 free throws. Hunt netted 14 of his 16 points in the second half, making 4-of-5 field goals and 5-of-6 free throws in the second stanza.
- First-year guard Tey Barbour netted a career-best 14 points on 4-of-6 field goals, 3-of-5 3-pointers, and 3-of-3 free throws. He scored 11 points in the second half on 3-of-4 field goals, 2-of-3 3-pointers, and 3-of-3 free throws. Barbour scored in double figures for the third time on the season.
- Junior guard Chandler Piggé posted 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and two steals, while making 5-of-8 field goals and 2-of-4 3-pointers. He scored in double figures for a team-high ninth time on the year.
- Harvard totaled four double-figure scorers for the sixth time on the year, including for the sixth time in the last eight games.
- In the second half, Harvard made 11-of-20 field goals (55.0 percent), 4-of-8 3-pointers (50.0 percent), and 15-of-17 free throws (88.2 percent).
- For the game, the Crimson connected on 20-of-24 free throws (83.3 percent). For the season, Harvard leads the Ivy League in free throw percentage (76.7 percent).
- Harvard matched its season high with 30 bench points.
How It Happened
- Harvard staked itself to a 20-12 edge at the 8:19 mark of the first half behind a pair of 3-pointers from Piggé and a triple from Barbour.
- The Gaels moved ahead 24-22 with 2:17 to go in the first half behind a 12-2 run before a dunk from Batties II and layup from Hunt helped the Crimson go into halftime tied at 24-24 with the Gaels.
- The Crimson took a 33-30 lead with 16:06 to go with a 3-pointer from Batties II and layup from Piggé.
- Harvard remained ahead 39-38 following a layup from Batties II with 12:02 to play before Iona scored the game's next seven points to take a 45-39 lead with 10:11 left.
- Five straight points from Barbour trimmed the margin to 45-44 before the Gaels moved their advantage to 49-44 with 8:56 remaining.
- Harvard then used a 12-0 run to claim a 56-49 lead with 5:13 to play. A four-point play from Barbour and pair of driving layups from Hunt helped key the run for the Crimson.
- After Iona whittled the margin to 62-59 with 50 seconds left, Hunt responded with a 3-pointer with 20 seconds to go to put Harvard back up 65-59. Barbour connected on a pair of free throws with 13 seconds remaining to seal the decision.
Postgame Quotes
"We talked about – before this game – going into the new year with some momentum, going into conference play with some momentum. It was really just the drive to get another win under our belt and make us feel better about ourselves. We've been saying for the longest time that we've been moving in the right direction, so this is just proof of that." – Sophomore forward
Thomas Batties II
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.
