Furman vs. Harvard: Dec. 6th
What a difference a second half makes. If you turned off the Elon game (or radio broadcast because FloSports is expensive) when the Paladins fell down by 18 in the first half, you missed one of the most resilient performances of the Coach Richey era. Furman (5-4) flipped the script in North Carolina on Wednesday, using a furious 17-1 run to close the first half and a stifling defensive stretch in the second to secure a 97-88 victory.
The offense is clicking (50.8% from the field), and Cooper Bowser is playing some of the best basketball of his career (19 points, 8 rebounds, 7-7 FG). Now, the Dins return to the friendly confines of Timmons Arena to host the Harvard Crimson (5-5) on Saturday afternoon.
Here is everything you need to know about the matchup.
The Crimson Scouting Report
Harvard arrives in Greenville sitting at .500 and looking to bounce back after a tough battle with UMass on Wednesday. Under long-time head coach Tommy Amaker, the Crimson are usually known for discipline and defense, but this year’s squad has struggled to find a consistent rhythm on the offensive end.
Statistically, this is a matchup that favors the Paladins’ current pace. Harvard is shooting just 37.4% from the field on the season, a number that suggests they have trouble generating high-percentage looks. They are also prone to mistakes, averaging a steep 17.7 turnovers per game. If Furman brings the same defensive intensity they showed in the final 20 minutes at Elon, there will be plenty of transition opportunities.
However, Harvard stays in games by getting to the free-throw line (77.8% as a team) and crashing the glass (rebounding margin of +2.4). They aren’t going to beat themselves with missed freebies, so Furman has to play clean.
Robert Hinton
While Harvard’s team offensive stats are underwhelming, they have a legitimate star in Robert Hinton.
Hinton is fresh off a career-high 35-point explosion against UMass on Wednesday. He is the engine of their offense and the guy Coach Amaker trusts to go get a bucket when things break down. He’s an aggressive scorer who attacks the rim and gets to the foul line frequently.
Key Personnel Notes:
• Robert Hinton: The clear “guy” of this offense. He scored nearly half their points against UMass. The game plan starts and ends with making him uncomfortable.
• Chandler Pigge & Tey Barbour: capable complementary pieces, but the drop-off in scoring production after Hinton is steep.
• The Frontcourt: Harvard has size and rebounds well, but they don’t have a dominant post scorer like the ones Furman has faced.
Keys to Victory
• Contain Hinton, Challenge the Rest: You can’t let one guy beat you at home. Furman needs to throw different looks at Hinton, trap him off ball screens, deny the ball, and force the other Crimson players to make shots. If Hinton gets his 30, it better be on 25+ shots.
• Turn Defense into Offense: Harvard’s 17.7 turnovers per game is a glaring weakness. Ben Vander Wal (5 steals vs. Elon!) and Eddrin Bronson need to be active in the passing lanes. Live-ball turnovers will fuel the Timmons crowd and get the Paladins easy buckets in transition.
• Control the Glass: Charles Johnston is coming off his sixth double-double of the year (12 pts, 11 rebs vs. Elon). Harvard is a decent rebounding team, but if Johnston and Bowser can neutralize them on the boards, Furman’s efficiency advantage should take over.
• Ride the Hot Hands: Asa Thomas broke out with 21 points and 5 threes against Elon. When he is spacing the floor, it opens up everything for Bowser and Johnston inside. We need that inside-out balance to continue.
The Outlook
This is a prime opportunity for Furman to build a winning streak before conference play. Harvard is a recognizable brand, but on the court, they are a team searching for consistency.
The Paladins showed incredible heart to dig out of that hole at Elon. If they bring that same second-half fire to the opening tip on Saturday, they should be able to overwhelm a turnover-prone Harvard team.