CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard University men’s basketball begins a back-to-back weekend at Massachusetts on Friday, Nov. 17 at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+/NESN+) at the Mullins Center prior to playing at Boston College on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 5:00 p.m. (ESPN+/ACCNX) with the Crimson entering the weekend with a 3-0 record for the first time since the 2013-14 season.

What to Know

• Harvard trails UMass in the all-time series, 11-18. The Crimson won three straight against the Minutemen from 2017-18 to 2019-20 before UMass has captured the last two meetings, including a narrow 71-68 decision at Lavietes Pavilion last season.
• The Crimson trails Boston College in the all-time series, 16-34. Harvard won six straight meetings from 2008-09 to 2013-14. After BC took the matchups in 2014-15 and 2015-16, Harvard captured the last meeting between the two teams, 74-66, in 2016-17. Harvard has posted a 7-2 record against the Eagles under Tommy Amaker.
• Harvard has opened its season 3-0 for the first time since 2013-14. Following a 78-50 victory over UMass Boston (Nov. 6) in its season opener, Harvard traveled down to Houston to beat Rice (Nov. 10), 89-76. Returning home, the Crimson bested Northeastern, 80-56, opening a week with three games against Bay State rivals. Over its first three games, Harvard scored 82.3 points per game, while holding its opponents to 60.7 points per game.
• Harvard faces off with a trio of Bay State rivals this week. The Crimson opened the stretch with an 80-56 victory over Northeastern (Nov. 14) and is set to meet Massachusetts (Nov. 17) and Boston College (Nov. 18) this weekend. Overall, three of Harvard’s first four games of the season feature opponents from the state of Massachusetts, including the team’s opener against UMass Boston (Nov. 6).
• First-year guard Malik Mack scored 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting to lead four Crimson in double figures as Harvard bested Northeastern (Nov. 14), 80-56. The Crimson led 41-28 at halftime and extended its margin to as large as 37 points at 70-33, outscoring the visiting Huskies (1-2) 29-5 to open the second half.
• In the Crimson’s first road game of 2023-24, sophomore guard Chandler Piggé – a Houston native – scored a game and career-high 23 points, and first-year guard Malik Mack netted a career-high 20 points as Harvard beat Rice (Nov. 10), 89-76, at Tudor Fieldhouse in Houston. The Crimson built a lead as large as 18 points in the first half, held a 43-33 edge at halftime, and withstood a second half rally from the Owls, responding with an 18-6 run after the hosts took a 62-60 lead with 8:34 left.
• First-year guard Malik Mack has averaged 18.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game, ranking first in the Ivy League in assists per game, first in points per game, and second in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.3). He has scored in double figures in all three games this season. Mack dropped 22 points on 9-of-11 field goals and 4-of-5 3-pointers in the win over Northeastern (Nov. 14). He tallied 20 points, eight assists, three rebounds, and three steals in Harvard’s win at Rice (Nov. 10) after posting 13 points and five boards vs. UMass Boston (Nov. 6). Mack won Ivy League Rookie of the Week on Nov. 13 after posting 16.5 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.0 rebounds and helping the Crimson go 2-0 in its opening week.
• Sophomore forward Chisom Okpara has tallied 15.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game on the year, ranking ninth in the Ivy League in both categories. He posted 17 points and seven rebounds in his season debut in the win at Rice (Nov. 10) before scoring 14 points in the win over Northeastern (Nov. 14). Last season, he averaged 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, scoring in double figures nine times. Okpara gained Ivy League Rookie of the Week four times (Nov. 14, Nov. 21, Dec. 26, Feb. 20) as a first-year last season.
• Sophomore guard Chandler Piggé has posted 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, scoring in double figures in each of the last two games. He dropped a career-high 23 points on 8-of-12 field goals and 6-of-6 free throws with five rebounds in Harvard’s win at Rice (Nov. 10). He notched 12 points and five rebounds in the win over Northeastern (Nov. 14). Piggé played in 18 games as a first-year.
• Senior forward Justice Ajogbor has registered 10.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game on the year, while shooting 68.2 percent from the field. He ranks first in the Ivy League and eighth in the NCAA in blocks per game (3.0), while standing third in the Ivy League in rebounds per game (9.0) and fourth in field goal percentage (68.2). Ajogbor notched 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting with six rebounds at Rice (Nov. 10) before grabbing a career-high 11 rebounds vs. Northeastern (Nov. 14). He posted his first collegiate double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds against UMass Boston (Nov. 6). Last season, he ranked third in the Ivy League with 1.4 blocks per game and added 6.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 54.9 percent from the field.
• Junior guard Louis Lesmond has averaged 9.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game on the year, while shooting 42.1 percent from 3-point distance. He ranks fourth in the Ivy League in 3-pointers made per game (2.7). Lesmond netted 10 points vs. Northeastern (Nov. 14). He connected on three 3-pointers in back-to-back games vs. UMass Boston (Nov. 6) and at Rice (Nov. 10). Lesmond averaged 7.9 points per game during the 2021-22 season before missing most of the 2022-23 season due to injury.
• First-year forward Thomas Batties II has registered 8.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 61.1 percent from the field. In his collegiate debut, he scored a team-high 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting with five rebounds in the win vs. UMass Boston (Nov. 6).
• First-year forward Luca Ace-Nasteski has compiled 4.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 50.0 percent from the field. He notched 11 points on 4-of-7 field goals with four rebounds in his collegiate debut vs. UMass Boston (Nov. 6).
• Junior guards Denham Wojcik and Tyler Simon have both contributed in the Crimson’s backcourt. Wojcik ranks fourth in the Ivy League in assists per game (3.3), while adding 2.7 points per game. He appeared in 41 games over his first two seasons. Simon has tacked on 3.7 points and 1.3 assists per game this year after appearing in 16 games in 2022-23.
• As a team, Harvard ranks 10^th in the NCAA in blocks per game (7.0), 35^th in field goal percentage defense (35.7), and 46^th in points per game allowed (60.7).
• In the Ivy rankings, the Crimson stands first in points per game allowed (60.7), field goal percentage defense (35.7), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.50), and blocks per game (7.0), while sitting second in rebounding margin (10.0) and third in points per game (82.3).

Next Up

Harvard plays at Boston College on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 5:00 p.m. (ESPN+/ACCNX) before playing at Colgate on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+).