Men’s Basketball Takes Narrow Loss to Navy, 85-80, in Veterans Classic

Behind a career night from junior guard Austin Benigni, Navy sank the Harvard men’s basketball team, 85-80, on Friday night in Annapolis. Benigni scored a career high 34 points on 17-17 free throw shooting to hand the Crimson (1-1, 0-0 Ivy) its first loss of the season.

Benigni’s breakout game was aided by 11 Navy steals and 19 total Harvard turnovers, which led to a points-off-turnovers mismatch of 28 to two in favor of the Midshipmen (1-1, 0-0 Patriot).

“I wish we played a little better in certain stretches in our game,” Head Coach Tommy Amaker reflected after the game. “But you have to give a lot of credit to Navy. I thought they played exceptionally well — very tough.”

The fact that the game was intensely competitive throughout was a testament to the Crimson’s offensive efficiency. Sophomore forward Thomas Batties II and junior co-captain Chandler Piggé, a Crimson Sports editor, shot a staggering combined 8-11 from three point range.

Batties II knocked down five of seven three point attempts and added four blocks for a career high 17 points, while Piggé made a career-best three of four shots from behind the arc for 16 points and eight rebounds.

Amaker spoke about Piggé’s contribution to the team following the Crimson’s opener against Marist on Monday, when the junior pitched in eight points and nine boards.

“He's our most valuable player out there, because he helps everybody else out,” Amaker explained.

“Chandler can kind of allow everyone to be aligned correctly. You take Chandler out, and it seems like things kind of get a little wobbly, you know, we're not as confident in certain things. Chandler gives a sense of maturity and confidence and consistency,” he added.

Freshman guard Robert Hinton followed up his tremendous 27-point game in Harvard’s home opener with a team-high 26 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, off of 11-19 shooting. Altogether, the Crimson shot 50% (30-60) from the field and 37.5% (12-32) from beyond the arc.

Playing with an experienced returning roster, the Midshipmen put the pressure on Harvard early, applying a full-court press from the tip-off.

Batties II and Hinton combined for the Crimson’s first 11 points, with the game standing level at 15-15 midway through the first after a couple of buckets from freshman guard Dutch Dowdell.

Despite consistent pressure from Navy, Harvard was able to pull away into a 31-21 lead behind a barrage of threes from Piggé and Batties II with seven minutes left in the half.

An inspired Navy offense, however, led at break-neck speed by Benigni, stormed back to close the half on a 19-3 run, taking full advantage of six Crimson turnovers to lead, 40-34, at the break.

The second half was a similar story to much of the first. Harvard played well for stretches, retaking the lead several times, including 62-58 with nine minutes to play, after two made free-throws by freshman guard Austin Hunt.

Unfortunately, those two free throws were the last of the game for Hunt, as he exited the game after what appeared to be a hamstring injury sustained on the previous play.

In addition to its turnovers, free throws were another area of concern for the Crimson, which shot a poor 53% from the line, making just eight of 15 attempts.

While the Crimson continued to hit some timely shots, keeping it a one-possession game with 46 seconds to play after a tough old-fashioned three-point play from Hinton, the hosts were able to hold on in the final possessions to close out the 85-80 win.

Harvard will continue its non-conference schedule next week by taking on American University (0-1, 0-0 Patriot) on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+) in Washington D.C..

—Staff writer Alexander K. Bell can be reached at alexander.bell@thecrimson.com.