CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Men's Basketball opens the second half of its 14-game Ivy League schedule when it hosts Cornell on Friday, Feb. 14 at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+) and Columbia on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+) at Lavietes Pavilion as the Crimson plays at home for the first time since Jan. 20.

What to Know

• The Crimson (7-13, 2-5 Ivy) meets the Big Red (13-7, 5-2 Ivy) and the Lions (12-8, 1-6 Ivy) in a re-match of games from the Jan. 31 to Feb. 1 weekend as Harvard begins the second half of its conference slate. Harvard plays at home for the first time since Jan. 20, hosts its first back-to-back of the season, and begins a stretch with five of its final seven contests at home.
• On Feb. 7, Harvard assistant coach and former Crimson standout Seth Towns '20 had his high school jersey retired at his alma mater of Northland High School. A 2016 Northland graduate, Towns holds the program records for points scored in a game (47), a season (759), and a career (2,018).
• Harvard features six student-athletes that are averaging 8.0 points per game or better on the season, including first-year guard Robert Hinton (14.2), junior guard Chandler Piggé (13.8), sophomore forward Thomas Batties II (9.8), senior guard Evan Nelson (8.4), senior guard Louis Lesmond (8.0), and first-year guard Austin Hunt (8.0). The Crimson has tallied four double-figure scorers in each of 11 games this season and in four Ivy League games.
• First-year guard Robert Hinton has averaged 14.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game on the year. Hinton has earned Ivy League Rookie of the Week six times (Nov. 11, Nov. 25, Dec. 9, Jan. 13, Jan. 21, Feb. 3) on the season. In the NCAA, Hinton ranks 18^th among first-years in points per game (14.2) and 14^th in field goals made per game (5.4). In the Ivy League, he stands ninth in points per game (14.2) and seventh in field goals made 108). In Ivy only play he has scored 14.6 points per game, while ranking seventh in steals per game (1.4) and seventh in field goal percentage (54.2). Hinton has scored in double figures 13 times on the year and eclipsed 20 points four times.
• Hinton poured in a career-high 28 points at Columbia (Jan. 31), making 10-of-15 field goals and 7-of-8 free throws. Hinton 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 dropped 26 points and eight boards at Navy (Nov. 8) and scored 20 points at Dartmouth (Feb. 8). Hinton netted 19 points at American (Nov. 10) before notching 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 has notched 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.9 steals per game on the year, while shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from 3-point range. 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 14^th in the nation in rebounds per game (7.2) in that height range. Piggé ranks 10^th in the Ivy League in points per game (13.8), second in steals per game (1.9), second in minutes per game (33.4), third in rebounds per game (7.2), fifth in field goals made (111), and 12^th in field goal percentage (49.6). In Ivy play, he has posted 15.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from 3-point distance. During Ancient Eight play, he stands 10^th in points per game (15.9), second in steals per game (2.4), fourth in rebounds per game (7.0), fifth in field goals made (44), seventh in 3-pointers made per game (2.1), eighth in 3-pointers made (15), and 11^th in 3-point percentage (40.5). In the NCAA rankings, he sits 75^th in steals per game (1.85). He has scored in double figures in each of 17 games on the year, has grabbed eight or more rebounds in each of 11 contests, and tallied two double-doubles.
• Piggé dropped a career-high 26 points at Columbia (Jan. 31), making 10-of-16 field goals, 3-of-6 treys, and 3-of-4 free throws, while adding eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals. 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 9.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game on the year, while shooting 41.0 percent from 3-point distance. He has scored in double figures in each of 10 games on the year. Batties II ranks third in the Ivy League and 80^th in the NCAA in blocks per game (1.6), including 12^th in the nation among players 6-foot-7 or shorter. He stands fourth in the conference in minutes per game (32.1). 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 vs. Furman (Dec. 21) and at Cornell (Feb. 1) 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 8.4 points, a team-high 2.9 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game on the year, while shooting 38.8 percent from 3-point distance. Nelson ranks 13^th in the conference in assists per game (2.9). In Ivy only play, he stands fifth in steals per game (1.6) and 13^th in assists per game (3.1). Nelson scored a season-high 16 points at Columbia (Jan. 31). 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 8.0 points and 2.4 rebounds per game on the season. In Ivy play, he has averaged 8.1 points per game, while shooting 33.3 percent from 3-point range. 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) and at Columbia (Jan. 31). 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 8.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game on the year, while shooting 53.4 percent from the field. In Ivy play, he ranks sixth in the conference in field goal percentage (54.5). 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 posted 10 points at Cornell (Feb. 1), 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 5.2 points and 2.0 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 24^th in the NCAA in fewest fouls per game (14.5). In the Ivy League, the Crimson stands third in scoring defense (72.9), third in steals per game (7.35), fourth in 3-point percentage defense (34.5), and fourth in blocks per game (2.85). In Ivy play, Harvard ranks second in steals per game (8.57), third in scoring defense (76.3), and third in 3-point percentage defense (37.7).
• Harvard trails Cornell in the all-time series, 88-98. The Crimson has posted a 21-13 record against Cornell under Tommy Amaker, The Thomas G. Stemberg '71 Family Endowed Coach for Harvard Men's Basketball.
• Harvard trails Columbia in the all-time series, 92-99, but the Crimson has taken the last 12 matchups in the series. That 12-game win streak includes three overtime contests.

Next Up

Harvard plays in its final road games of the regular season with contests at Princeton on Friday, Feb. 21 at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+) and at Penn on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+, NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports Philadelphia+).