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Chisom Okpara
Greg Sabin
62
Harvard HU 12-9,3-5 Ivy League
75
Winner Cornell CU 18-4,7-1 Ivy League
Harvard HU
12-9,3-5 Ivy League
62
Final
75
Cornell CU
18-4,7-1 Ivy League
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Harvard HU 34 28 62
Cornell CU 37 38 75

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men’s Basketball Drops 75-62 Decision at Cornell

ITHACA, N.Y. – Sophomore forward Chisom Okpara scored a game-high 15 points, but Harvard University men's basketball dropped a 75-62 decision at Cornell University on Friday night at Newman Arena.
 
Opening its first away Ivy League back-to-back of the season and starting the second half of its 14-game conference slate, the Crimson (12-9, 3-5 Ivy) remained within 37-34 at halftime and 48-44 with 14:09 to play before the host Big Red (18-4, 7-1 Ivy) gained a lead as large as 16 points in the second half.
 
Okpara scored in double figures for the 19th time in 20 games played this season while adding four rebounds, a team-high three assists, and two steals to his 15 points. First-year guard Malik Mack netted 12 points with a team-high three assists, finishing in double figures for the 17th time in 18 games played this year. Senior forward Justice Ajogbor tallied 11 points and team highs in rebounds (seven) and blocks (three). 

Harvard Highlights

  • Sophomore forward Chisom Okpara scored a game-high 15 points alongside four rebounds, a team-best three assists, and two steals, while making 4-of-9 field goals and 6-of-6 free throws. He scored in double figures for the 19th time in 20 games played this season and led the Crimson in scoring for the 11th time this year.
  • First-year guard Malik Mack netted 12 points with a team-high three assists, while converting 4-of-5 free throws. He finished in double figures for the 17th time in 18 games played this season.
  • Senior forward Justice Ajogbor registered 11 points and team highs in rebounds (seven) and blocks (three). He scored in double figures for the fourth time this year and blocked three or more shots in a game for the seventh time in 2023-24.
  • Junior guard Tyler Simon added eight points, four rebounds, and a team-high three steals, and sophomore guard Chandler Piggé contributed seven points, a team-best seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Gallery: (2-16-2024) Men's Basketball at Cornell
 

How It Happened

  • An early dunk from Ajogbor prior to 3-pointers from Okpara and Piggé helped give Harvard an early 13-11 lead at the 15:08 mark of the first half. A 3-pointer from Simon and jumper from Mack kept the Crimson up 21-16 with 9:22 to play in the first half.
  • The two teams remain tied at 27-27 with 4:21 to go until halftime, and the Crimson scored five straight points to pull within 35-34 with seven seconds left in the half before the Big Red brought a 35-34 edge into the locker room.
  • After Cornell started the second half on an 8-0 run, a pair of free throws from Okpara and layup from Mack kept the Crimson within 45-38 with 17:15 remaining.
  • Facing a 48-38 deficit, the Crimson netted six consecutive points to trim the margin to 48-44 with 14:09 to play. Harvard remained within two possessions after a layup from Piggé brought the score to 52-46 with 12:18 left.
  • The hosts then used a 15-5 run to move ahead 67-51 with 8:14 to go. A 3-pointer from first-year guard Xavier Nesbitt whittled the difference to 69-59 at the 5:30 mark before Cornell closed out the contest. 

Next Up

Harvard plays at Columbia tomorrow – Saturday, Feb. 17 – at 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+) to close its first away Ivy back-to-back weekend of the year.

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