GREENVILLE, S.C. – Sophomore guard
Robert Hinton totaled a game-high 26 points, team-high five rebounds, game-high five assists, and game-best three steals, but Harvard Men's Basketball fell at Furman University, 79-69, on Saturday afternoon at Timmons Arena.
Competing in its last game prior to the finals break, the Crimson (5-6) held an early 16-14 lead and remained within 37-30 at halftime before the Paladins (6-4) gained a lead as large as 18 points in the second half and fended off a second-half rally from the visitors that trimmed the margin to as low as seven points at 59-52 with 8:39 to play.
Hinton made 12-of-21 field goals as part of his 26-point effort, scoring over 20 points for the fourth time on the season and for the 10
th time in his career. Hinton averaged 30.5 points per game on the week after dropping a career-high 35 points at Massachusetts on Dec. 3.
Sophomore guards
Ben Eisendrath and
Austin Hunt each scored 10 points to join Hinton in double figures for the game.
Harvard Highlights
- Sophomore guard Robert Hinton totaled a game-high 26 points, a team-high five rebounds, a game and career-best five assists, and game-high three steals, while shooting 12-of-21 from the floor. He scored over 20 points for the fourth time this season and for the 10th time in his career. For the week, he averaged 30.5 points per game after dropping a career-high 35 points at Massachusetts on Dec. 3.
- Sophomore guard Ben Eisendrath tallied 10 points and three assists, while shooting 3-of-6 from the field and 2-of-3 from 3-point distance. He finished in double figures for the second time this season.
- Sophomore guard Austin Hunt netted 10 points on 4-of-5 field goals and 2-of-3 3-pointers, scoring in double figures for the second time this year.
- Sophomore guard Tey Barbour added nine points on a trio of 3-pointers with four rebounds and two assists, while senior guard Chandler Piggé chipped in eight points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
- For the game, Harvard held edges in points off turnovers (11-7) and steals (10-6). The Crimson forced the Paladins into 16 turnovers while committing just nine.
Gallery: (12-6-2025) Men's Basketball at Furman
How It Happened
- Harvard staked itself to a 16-14 lead at the 10:59 mark of the first half with an old-fashioned 3-point play from Hinton and 3-pointer from Hunt helping the Crimson get in front.
- Following a 7-0 run from the hosts, a 3-pointer from Barbour kept the Crimson within 21-19 with 8:54 to go in the opening half before back-to-back baskets from first-year Kenan Parrish and Hinton allowed Harvard to remain within 28-25 with 5:05 on the clock.
- After Furman moved the margin to 37-27 behind a 9-2 run with 38 seconds to go until the break, Eisendrath hit a 3-pointer just before time expired to cut the difference to 37-30 heading into halftime.
- The Paladins opened the second half on a 15-4 run to take an 18-point lead – their largest of the game – at 52-34 with 13:57 to play.
- Harvard countered with a 14-5 run to trim the deficit to 57-48 with 10:01 to go. A 3-pointer from Eisendrath and conventional 3-point play from Hinton catalyzed the spurt.
- A jumper from Hinton pulled the visitors within 59-52 with 8:39 remaining, but the Crimson could pull no closer inside of the final eight minutes.
Postgame Quotes
- "Another one with moments where we were in a deep hole. Digging out takes so much out of you where you almost have to be perfect from a stretch on which obviously we weren't – on the road against a really good team. Some of our key guys have not shot the ball well. Robert has been the one who has had to carry us completely, entirely offensively for the last two games." – Tommy Amaker, The Thomas G. Stemberg '71 Family Endowed Coach for Harvard Men's Basketball
- "For the rest of our guys it's been a struggle with shooting. I don't know if that's tired legs or what it is. We need Tey and Chandler to be a little more efficient offensively to help us. Thank goodness for Robert. It was another outstanding performance from him, but not enough for us to have good balance to win on the road against a team like this." – Coach Amaker
Next Up
Harvard hosts Holy Cross on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+/NESN) before playing at No. 23 St. John's on Dec. 23 at 6:00 p.m. (FS1) and at Colgate on Sunday, Dec. 28 at 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+) to close non-conference play.
