CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Men's Basketball hosts its final back-to-back of the regular season at Lavietes Pavilion when it takes on Brown University on Friday, Feb. 28 at 5:00 p.m. (ESPN+) and Yale University on Saturday, Mar. 1 at 4:00 p.m. (ESPN+) as the Crimson closes the regular season on a three-game homestand.

What to Know

• Entering the weekend, the Crimson (10-14, 5-6 Ivy) and the Bears (13-11, 5-6 Ivy) stand in a tie for fifth place in the Ivy League standings with Harvard having taken an 80-67 decision over Brown on Jan. 18. Both teams trail Princeton (17-9, 6-5 Ivy) and Cornell (14-10, 6-5 Ivy) in the conference standings with the Tigers and Big Red sitting in a tie for third place.
• Harvard has posted a 3-1 mark over its last four games within wins over Cornell (75-73), Columbia (87-75), and Penn (79-78, OT). Over that span, the Crimson has shot 50.0 percent from the field, 34.5 percent from 3-point distance, and 85.9 percent from the foul line. Four Crimson have averaged double-figure scoring over the stretch, including first-year guard Robert Hinton (19.0 PPG, 53.5 FG%, 50.0 3PT%, 86.7 FT%), sophomore forward Thomas Batties II (18.5 PPG, 58.8 FG%, 80.0 FT%), junior guard Chandler Piggé (11.3 PPG, 100.0 FT%), and senior guard Evan Nelson (11.0 PPG, 50.0 FG%, 43.8 3PT%, and 100.0 FT%).
• Senior guard Evan Nelson hit a 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, and first-year guard Robert Hinton hit four free throws inside of the final minute of the bonus session as Harvard pulled out a 79-78 win in overtime over Penn at The Palestra on Feb. 22. Hinton led five Crimson in double figures with 22 points on 5-of-10 field goals and a career-high 12-of-13 free throws.
• First-year guard Robert Hinton earned Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors for the seventh time this season on Feb. 24. Hinton scored 26.5 points per game on the week, while shooting 60.0 percent from the field (15-of-25), 60.0 percent from 3-point distance (3-of-5), and 90.9 percent from the free throw line (20-of-22). He scored a career-high 31 points at Princeton before netting a team-high 22 points at Penn.
• All five of Harvard's regular starters are averaging 8.1 points per game or better on the season, including first-year guard Robert Hinton (15.0), junior guard Chandler Piggé (13.4), sophomore forward Thomas Batties II (11.3), senior guard Evan Nelson (8.8), and senior guard Louis Lesmond (8.1). The Crimson has tallied four or more double-figure scorers in each of 14 games this season and in seven Ivy League games.
• First-year guard Robert Hinton has averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game on the year, while shooting 48.7 percent from the field and 39.0 percent from 3-point range. Hinton has earned Ivy League Rookie of the Week seven times (Nov. 11, Nov. 25, Dec. 9, Jan. 13, Jan. 21, Feb. 3, Feb. 24) on the season. In the NCAA, Hinton ranks 12^th among first-years in points per game (15.0) and 13^th in field goals made per game (5.5). In the Ivy League, he eighth ninth in points per game (15.0), third in free throws made (81), and fifth in field goals made (131). In Ivy only play he ranks eighth in points per game (16.2), first in free throws made (45), seventh in field goal percentage (53.9), and fifth in steals per game (1.4). Hinton has scored in double figures 17 times on the year and eclipsed 20 points six times. He has scored 359 points on the year, ranking sixth on Harvard's all-time first-year single-season scoring list.
• Hinton established a new career high with 31 points at Princeton (Feb. 21), hitting 10-of-15 field goals, 3-of-3 3-pointers, and 8-of-9 free throws, while eclipsing 30 points for the first time. He poured in 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), netted 22 points with eight boards at Penn (Feb. 22), 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 13.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game on the year, while shooting 48.5 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 16^th in the nation in rebounds per game (6.7). Piggé ranks 11^th in the Ivy League in points per game (13.4), second in steals per game (1.8), second in minutes per game (33.5), fifth in rebounds per game (6.7), and eighth in field goals made (128). During Ancient Eight play, he stands 13^th in points per game (14.2), second in steals per game (2.2), and seventh in rebounds per game (6.1). He has scored in double figures in each of 20 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) before netting 14 points at Penn (Feb. 22). He posted 8.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game last winter.
• Sophomore forward Thomas Batties II has averaged 11.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game on the year, while shooting 39.7 percent from 3-point distance. He has scored in double figures in each of 13 games on the year. Batties II ranks fourth in the Ivy League in blocks per game (1.46), including 14^th in the nation among players 6-foot-7 or shorter. He stands fifth in the conference in minutes per game (32.5). He dropped a career-high 31 points on 12-of-15 shooting vs. Columbia (Feb. 15), taking Ivy League Player of the Week (Feb. 17). Batties II poured in 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting vs. Cornell (Feb. 14). He 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 dropped 17 points vs. Colgate (Nov. 22) before scoring a game-high 16 points vs. UMass (Nov. 27). Batties II scored 17 points at Navy (Nov. 8) and scored 15 points at Penn (Feb. 22). 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 8.8 points, a team-high 3.0 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game on the year, while shooting 39.8 percent from 3-point distance. Nelson ranks 12^th in the conference in assists per game (3.0). In Ivy only play, he stands fourth in steals per game (1.5) and ninth in assists per game (3.4). At Penn (Feb. 22), he hit a 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left in regulation to force overtime in an eventual 79-78 win. 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 13 points and five rebounds vs. Cornell (Feb. 14). 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 8.1 points and 2.9 rebounds per game on the season. Lesmond matched his career high with 17 points against Columbia (Feb. 15). 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 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 tallied 7.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game on the year. Hunt ranks fifth in the league in field goal percentage in all games (55.1) and in Ivy only games (56.7). 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), netted 13 points at Penn (Feb. 22), and notched 12 points and nine rebounds vs. Bowdoin (Jan. 5). He posted 10 points at Cornell (Feb. 1) and tallied seven assists at Navy (Nov. 8). He missed eight games from Nov. 10 to Dec. 8 due to injury.
• First-year guard Tey Barbour has notched 4.7 points and 1.8 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 21^st in the NCAA in fewest fouls per game (14.3) and 48^th in free throw percentage (76.1). In the Ivy League, the Crimson stands first in free throw percentage (76.1), third in steals per game (7.17) and fourth in 3-point percentage defense (34.7) In Ivy only play, the team sits second in steals per game (7.73), third in free throw percentage (77.3) and fourth in field goal percentage (46.3).
• Harvard holds a 107-79 edge in the all-time series with Brown. The Crimson has posted a 23-10 mark against Brown under the direction of head coach Tommy Amaker.
• Harvard trails the all-time series with Yale, 84-126. Under Tommy Amaker – The Thomas G. Stemberg '71 Family Endowed Coach for Harvard Men's Basketball – the Crimson has posted a 19-17 record against the Bulldogs.

Next Up

Harvard hosts Dartmouth on Saturday, Mar. 8 at 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+) at Lavietes Pavilion in its regular season finale.