The Harvard men’s basketball team finished a tough first half of the season in style, beating New Hampshire, 72-62, in Durham after a 19-6 run in the final four minutes gave the Crimson the lead for good.
Harvard (3-7), which had lost seven of eight games, held a 19-2 advantage in fast-break points Sunday and had four players in double figures led by freshman Robert Hinton’s 15 points. Junior Chandler Piggé added 14 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals, and senior Louis Lesmond a season-best 13 off the bench.
The teams traded the lead 17 times, with the Crimson up, 23-15, with 5:46 to go in the first half before the Wildcats cut it to 30-29 at halftime. It remained a one-possession game inside the final four minutes of the second half, with a pair of Thomas Batties II free throws putting Harvard up, 55-54, with 3:52 to play.
Advertisement
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
The Crimson missed just one shot the rest of the way, with a 5-point flurry from Lesmond building the lead to 63-56 with 1:51 left and four Evan Nelson free throws helping salt it away.
Advertisement
Harvard shot 50 percent from the field, with Piggé going 6 of 9. He’s reached double-digit points in seven of the Crimson’s 10 games, and led them in rebounding in eight.
“He does everything for us,” coach Tommy Amaker said. “He’s our most valuable, our most important … he’s our most reliable and dependable player.”
Junior Anthony McComb III scored a game-high 21 points for the Wildcats (2-11) in the first meeting between the schools since Nov. 25, 2009. New Hampshire, whose roster includes just three returners, is yet to beat a fellow Division 1 school this year, its victories coming against Division 3 UMass Boston and Endicott.
Harvard is off until Dec. 21, when it hosts Furman. New Hampshire travels to Stonehill on Dec. 22.
The federal government has activated the New Hampshire National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing in connection with the war with Iran.
“I’ve had a briefing myself, a classified briefing, but it’s really important on the messaging on this that we really coordinate with the Pentagon,” Gov. Kelly Ayotte told reporters during a press briefing following Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting.
Ayotte said she was unable to share additional details about the nature of the New Hampshire National Guard’s activity related to the conflict, including how many guard members have been activated or what role they are playing.
“We’re going to respect what messaging comes out of the Pentagon just to make sure that our men and women in uniform are fully protected and that we aren’t providing any information that could be used in a way that would be harmful to them,” Ayotte said.
Advertisement
In a statement Thursday, Ayotte said the unit had been deployed in late February to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of the operation.
Pease Air National Guard KC-46 Pegasus air refueling aircraft in June 2023.
Earlier this week, Pentagon officials confirmed that members of the Vermont National Guard were involved in attacks against Iran over the weekend, though our news partners at Vermont Public were not able to confirm additional details on the nature of the operation.
During the briefing with local reporters, Ayotte also stressed her support for servicemembers and those close to them.
“I have such respect for our men and women in uniform,” Ayotte said. “As you know, I come from a military family, and they have our full support, and we appreciate them and their families, and obviously anyone who is serving right now, and my thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost someone that they love.”
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
Advertisement
An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment. He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
Advertisement
McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
Advertisement
New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads. The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
