CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Men's Basketball hosts Princeton in its Ivy League opener on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+) at a sold-out Lavietes Pavilion as the Crimson enters the contest having won three of its last four games to close non-conference play.

What to Know

• Harvard features six student-athletes that are averaging 7.9 points per game or better, including first-year guard Robert Hinton (13.9), junior guard Chandler Piggé (12.7), sophomore forward Thomas Batties II (10.5), first-year guard Austin Hunt (8.8), senior guard Evan Nelson (8.4), and senior guard Louis Lesmond (7.9). The Crimson has tallied four double-figure scorers in each of seven games this season, including in seven of its last nine contests.
• First-year guard Robert Hinton has averaged 13.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game on the year. 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 19^th among first-years in points per game (13.9) and 16^th in field goals made per game (5.3). In the Ivy League, he stands ninth in points per game (13.9), fifth in field goals made (69), and sixth in free throws made (36). Hinton has scored in double figures eight 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 12.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game on the year, while shooting 50.4 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 ranks 10th in the nation in rebounds per game (7.2). Piggé ranks first in the Ivy League in rebounds per game (7.2), second in minutes per game (33.9), third in steals per game (1.5), and 12^th in points per game (12.7). He has scored in double figures in each of 10 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 scored 15 points vs. Bowdoin (Jan. 5), netted 12 points at Iona (Dec. 29) and 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 10.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game on the year, while shooting 43.9 percent from 3-point distance. He ranks first in the Ivy League and 42^nd in the NCAA in blocks per game (1.8), including third in the nation among players 6-foot-7 or shorter. He stands third in the conference in minutes per game (32.8). Batties II totaled 16 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks at Iona, 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). Batties II registered 6.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on the 2023-24 season.
• Senior guard Evan Nelson has contributed 8.4 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game on the year, while shooting 40.0 percent from 3-point distance. 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 7.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game after missing the year's first five games. 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.
• First-year guard Austin Hunt has registered 8.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game on the year, while shooting 51.7 percent from the field. He has averaged 14.0 points per game over his last two outings. 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 then 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 6.2 points and 2.5 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 18^th in the NCAA in fewest fouls per game (14.2) and 75^th in free throw percentage (75.1). In the Ivy League, the Crimson stands second in free throw percentage (75.1), third in blocks per game (3.23), third in 3-point percentage defense (32.8), fourth in steals per game (6.69), and fourth in scoring defense (71.0).
• Harvard trails Princeton in the all-time series, 51-139. The Crimson holds a 14-19 mark against the Tigers under Tommy Amaker.

Next Up

Harvard plays at Brown on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+) and hosts Penn on Monday, Jan. 20 at 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+) for a Martin Luther King Day matinee.