Harvard Triumphs with Perfect Weekend: Dominates Columbia 87-75 – A Recap from The Harvard Crimson

Before Ivy Madness, Coach Tommy Amaker used to say that winning the league often came down to performances like last night. Harvard (9-13, 4-5 Ivy) took control against Columbia (12-10, 1-8 Ivy), winning 87-75. With back-to-back games, how a team plays on Saturday can really set the tone for the weekend.

Even though league standings don’t solely dictate the winner anymore, Saturday matches still matter. After a strong win against Cornell on Friday, Harvard faced Columbia knowing that each game counts as they fight for a spot in Ivy Madness.

The pressure was on. Brown (12-10, 4-5 Ivy) and Dartmouth (12-10, 6-3 Ivy), two of Harvard’s closest rivals, also won their games, making it crucial for Harvard to claim a victory against Columbia.

Harvard’s star of the night was sophomore Thomas Batties II, who scored a career-high 31 points. He shot 12-15 from the field and 4-6 from three-point range, building on his previous best night when he scored 21 points against Cornell.

“What a performance by Thomas,” Coach Amaker said. “He was incredibly efficient and impactful.”

Columbia came ready to compete. Despite being 2.5 point underdogs, they started strong, leading 11-7 early in the game.

But Batties quickly turned the tide. He hit back-to-back threes, putting Harvard ahead, 12-11. Co-captain Evan Nelson then scored seven points in a row, pushing the lead to six, 19-13.

The momentum continued as Harvard shot brilliantly. Senior Louis Lesmond added two three-pointers, and the lead stretched to 12 points, 34-22.

Columbia tried to chip away at the lead, but Batties and Nelson answered, consistently keeping a cushion. At halftime, Harvard maintained a solid 44-32 lead, shooting an impressive 71% from the field, including an astounding 78% from three.

“My coach really motivated me,” Batties shared after the game. “I just trust my teammates. I just went out there and attacked.”

In the second half, both teams came out strong. Lesmond hit more threes, boosting his total to 16 points. Batties broke his career high again, scoring 22 points with plenty of time still left on the clock.

His energy didn’t stop there—Batties scored, drew a foul, and converted the free throw, pushing Harvard’s lead to 69-52. Even as Columbia fought back, Harvard stayed in control, with freshman Austin Hunt joining the scoring with a corner three, making it 80-64 with just under four minutes left.

Columbia tried to rally, but Harvard held firm, making their free throws when it counted. After the day’s games, Harvard is tied for fifth with Brown, just one game behind Princeton and Cornell.

With five games left in the season, Harvard will head south for two important matchups against Princeton and Penn next weekend. They’ll return home for a three-game stretch to wrap up the regular season.

– Staff Writer Alexander K. Bell can be reached at alexander.bell@thecrimson.com.