Harvard's Robert Hinton stole the show at Lavietes Pavilion, scoring 27 points to lead the Crimson to an 87-80 victory over Princeton. The win improves Harvard's record to 10-9, but the Quad 4 designation of the game means it may not carry as much weight as the team had hoped. Princeton, meanwhile, falls to 7-13 and sees its struggles continue.
The game got off to a fast-paced start, with Princeton taking a 43-30 lead into halftime. Landon Clark was instrumental in the Tigers' strong first half, scoring 13 of his 19 points before the break. However, Harvard regrouped and came out strong in the second half, with Hinton and Chandler Pigge leading the charge. Pigge finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Thomas Batties III added 18 points and 9 rebounds.
As the second half wore on, Harvard's offense began to click, and the Crimson slowly chipped away at Princeton's lead. The Tigers' offense, which had been so potent in the first half, began to stall, scoring just 29 points after the break. Malik Abdullahi and Jackson Hicke tried to keep Princeton in the game, scoring 18 and 17 points, respectively, but it wasn't enough to overcome Harvard's balanced attack.
Despite the win, Harvard's resume remains a work in progress. The Crimson's current net ranking of 192 is a far cry from the top 100, and the Quad 4 designation of this game means it won't do much to boost their standing. For Princeton, the loss is another blow to their already slim tournament hopes. The Tigers' net ranking of 237 makes it unlikely they'll be able to climb into contention, and the Quad 3 designation of the game means they missed an opportunity to pick up a quality win.
Hinton's performance was a bright spot for Harvard, and he'll look to build on this outing as the Crimson continue their season. The junior guard was efficient and effective, making tough shots and drawing contact to get to the free-throw line. If he can continue to play at this level, Harvard may be able to make a push for a stronger finish to the season.
In the end, Harvard's win over Princeton is a solid, if unspectacular, addition to their resume. While it won't do much to move the needle in terms of their tournament chances, it's a win nonetheless, and the Crimson will take it as they look to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. For now, Harvard remains on the outside looking in, but with continued strong performances from Hinton and company, they may be able to play their way into contention.