CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Men's Basketball competes in its first back-to-back of the season when it plays at Columbia on Friday, Jan. 31 at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+) at Levien Gymnasium in New York, New York before playing at Cornell on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+) at Newman Arena in Ithaca, New York as the Crimson continues a four-game road swing.

What to Know

• Harvard features six student-athletes that are averaging 8.1 points per game or better on the season, including first-year guard Robert Hinton (13.4), junior guard Chandler Piggé (13.2), sophomore forward Thomas Batties II (10.4), senior guard Louis Lesmond (8.6), first-year guard Austin Hunt (8.4), and senior guard Evan Nelson (8.1). The Crimson has tallied four double-figure scorers in each of 10 games this season, including in 10 of its last 13 contests and in three of four Ivy League games.
• First-year guard Robert Hinton has averaged 13.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game on the year. Hinton has earned Ivy League Rookie of the Week five times (Nov. 11, Nov. 25, Dec. 9, Jan. 13, Jan. 21) on the season. In the NCAA, Hinton ranks 22^nd among first-years in points per game (13.4) and 18^th in field goals made per game (5.1). In the Ivy League, he stands 10^th in points per game (13.4). Hinton has scored in double figures 11 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 second-leading rebounds – has notched 13.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game on the year, while shooting 49.7 percent from the field. 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 sits as one of just three players in the nation to average over 13 points, seven rebounds, and two assists per game and ranks eighth in the nation in rebounds per game (7.4) in that height range. Piggé ranks second in the Ivy League in rebounds per game (7.4), second in minutes per game (33.6), fourth in steals per game (1.6), sixth in field goals made (91), 12^th in field goal percentage (49.7), and 11^th in points per game (13.2). In Ivy play, he has posted 15.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from 3-point distance. During Ancient Eight play, he stands 11^th in points per game (15.0), third in steals per game (2.0), fourth in rebounds per game (8.0), and ninth in field goals made (24). He has scored in double figures in each of 14 games on the year, has grabbed eight or more rebounds in each of 10 contests, and tallied two double-doubles.
• Piggé posted a double-double on 17 points and 11 rebounds at Brown (Jan. 18). He notched 16 points and nine rebounds vs. Colgate (Nov. 22) after scoring 17 points with six rebounds at Northeastern (Nov. 13). Piggé totaled 16 points, nine rebounds, and three steals vs. Furman (Dec. 21). Piggé posted his first double-double of the year on 15 points and a career-high 12 rebounds vs. Princeton (Jan. 11). 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 scored 15 points vs. Penn (Jan. 20) and Bowdoin (Jan. 5). He posted 8.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game last winter.
• Sophomore forward Thomas Batties II has averaged 10.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game on the year, while shooting 39.3 percent from 3-point distance. He has scored in double figures in six of his last seven games. Batties II ranks first in the Ivy League and 43^rd in the NCAA in blocks per game (1.8), including fourth in the nation among players 6-foot-7 or shorter. He stands third in the conference in minutes per game (32.6). Batties II totaled 16 points, eight rebounds, and six blocks at Iona (Dec. 29), standing as one of only three players in the nation to record that stat line in November or December. 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 five made 3-pointer and four blocks at Navy (Nov. 8). He notched 14 points and six boards vs. Furman (Dec. 21) and netted 13 points vs. Princeton (Jan. 11) and at Brown (Jan. 18). Batties II registered 6.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on the 2023-24 season.
• Senior guard Evan Nelson has contributed 8.1 points, a team-high 2.9 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game on the year, while shooting 40.4 percent from 3-point distance. Nelson ranks 13^th in the conference in assists per game (2.9). In Ivy only play, he stands fourth in steals per game (1.5) and 13^th in assists per game (3.3). 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 8.6 points and 2.3 rebounds per game after missing the year's first five games. In Ivy play, he has averaged 10.0 points per game and ranks fifth in the league in 3-point percentage (47.1). He netted a season-high 15 points at Brown (Jan. 18). Lesmond scored 13 points at UNH (Dec. 8) and posted 12 points vs. Princeton (Jan. 11). He netted 11 points against St. John's (Nov. 30), Furman (Dec. 21), and Yale (Jan. 25). He averaged 9.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game last season, while shooting 37.9 percent from 3-point distance.
• First-year guard Austin Hunt has registered 8.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game on the year, while shooting 54.5 percent from the field. In Ivy play, he ranks fourth in the conference in field goal percentage (57.7). He missed eight games from Nov. 10 to Dec. 8 due to injury. Hunt scored a career-high 16 points at Iona (Dec. 29), earning Ivy League Rookie of the Week (Dec. 30) for the effort. He posted 13 points and eight rebounds vs. Penn (Jan. 20) and notched 12 points and nine rebounds vs. Bowdoin (Jan. 5). He scored nine points in his collegiate debut vs. Marist (Nov. 4) and tallied seven assists at Navy (Nov. 8).
• First-year guard Tey Barbour has notched 5.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game on the year. He scored a career-high 14 points at Iona. 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.
• As a team, Harvard ranks 25^th in the NCAA in fewest fouls per game (14.6) and 93^rd in free throw percentage (74.3). In the Ivy League, the Crimson stands second in scoring defense (72.0), third in free throw percentage (74.3), third in steals per game (7.12), fourth in 3-point percentage defense (34.5), and fourth in blocks per game (3.06). In Ivy play, Harvard ranks first in steals per game (8.50), third in scoring defense (75.3), fourth in field goal percentage defense (44.7), and fourth in free throw percentage (74.0).
• Harvard trails Columbia in the all-time series, 92-98, but the Crimson has taken the last 11 matchups in the series. That 11-game win streak includes three overtime contests.
• Harvard trails Cornell in the all-time series, 88-97. The Crimson has posted a 21-12 record against Cornell under Tommy Amaker, The Thomas G. Stemberg '71 Family Endowed Coach for Harvard Men's Basketball.

Next Up

Harvard plays at Dartmouth on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+) to close out the first half of Ivy League play.