The Harvard men’s basketball team concluded its out-of-conference schedule with a 78-69 victory over Colgate on Sunday. The Crimson, now 7-7, relied on strong three-point shooting, hitting 13 of 24 attempts from beyond the arc. Junior forward Thomas Batties II scored a season-high 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds, leading Harvard to its ninth consecutive win over Colgate, a streak dating back to 2004.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams experiencing bright moments. However, Harvard took the lead with just over 12 minutes remaining in the second half and maintained it until the end. The team’s three-point shooting was a key factor, with four players making multiple threes. Sophomore guard Tey Barbour went 4-for-6 from downtown, bringing his season average to 41 percent.
Coach Tommy Amaker praised his team’s effort, saying, “I was really pleased with our guys fighting and clawing. We shot well percentage-wise, which was very helpful for us. We got great efforts from a lot of different people.” The team’s performance was notable, considering they were coming off a brief holiday break. Both teams had streaky first halves, with Colgate initially taking a 5-0 lead, only for Harvard to respond with an 8-0 run.
The second half saw Colgate storm out to a 13-2 run, taking a 50-45 lead. However, Harvard remained unfazed, sinking threes and finishing layups to regain the advantage. The Raiders hung in the game, but a timely three-pointer from Batties and a coast-to-coast layup by captain Chandler Piggé gave the Crimson a 69-61 lead with five minutes left. Colgate cut the lead to 69-67, but Harvard’s Austin Hunt sealed the game with a catch-and-shoot three, followed by a layup from Piggé.
The win was an ideal lead-in to conference play for Harvard, which begins on January 5 against Dartmouth. The team is expected to face intense competition in the Ivy League, but coach Amaker is confident in their ability to perform. “You can see how the intensity and competitiveness is going to – we think – follow through in league play,” he said. With their strong performance against Colgate, the Crimson appears ready to take on the challenges of the Ancient Eight.