NCAAB · Final

Cornell Tops Harvard in Thrilling NCAAB Clash

Saturday, January 24, 2026, 2:00 PM ET · Lavietes Pavilion

Cornell Big Red 86, Harvard Crimson 79, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.

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Quick answers

Who won Cornell Big Red vs Harvard Crimson?

Cornell Big Red beat Harvard Crimson 86-79 at Lavietes Pavilion on January 24, 2026.

Who was favored in Cornell Big Red vs Harvard Crimson?

Harvard Crimson were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -125 (about 56% implied). The underdog won.

In a closely contested matchup, the Cornell Big Red triumphed over the Harvard Crimson with a final score of 86-79 at Lavietes Pavilion. This victory marks a significant moment for Cornell as they continue to navigate a challenging season. Both teams entered the game with nearly identical records, with Harvard standing at 10-9 and Cornell at 9-9, making this fixture particularly compelling for fans and analysts alike.

Harvard's recent form showcased a team that had found some momentum, winning six of their last ten games and riding a three-game winning streak leading up to this encounter. They averaged 71.2 points scored and allowed 69.0 points during this stretch. Notably, their last five games reflected a strong performance with an average of 75.2 points scored and 68.4 points allowed. At home, the Crimson maintained a record of 4-1, indicating their strength on their own court.

In contrast, Cornell had struggled more in their recent outings, recording a 3-7 record over their last ten games. However, they managed to snap a losing streak with a victory in their most recent game against the Brown Bears, where they scored an impressive 89 points. The Big Red averaged 91.1 points scored and 91.4 points allowed in their last ten games, highlighting their high-scoring potential but also their defensive vulnerabilities. Their away record stood at 2-5, which added to the challenge of playing on the road against a formidable opponent like Harvard.

The two teams had met previously in the 2025 season, splitting their encounters with each team winning once. Harvard had secured a narrow victory at home with a score of 75-73, while Cornell had previously defeated Harvard 75-60 in their earlier meeting. This history added an extra layer of intensity to the matchup, as both teams sought to assert dominance in their rivalry.

In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details, but it is always a critical factor in college basketball, where player availability can significantly impact a team's performance.

The betting market reflected a competitive outlook for the game, with DraftKings setting the odds at Harvard -1.5, indicating a slight preference for the home team. The total points line was set at 160.5, suggesting expectations for a high-scoring affair given both teams' offensive capabilities.

Conditions at Lavietes Pavilion were typical for a college basketball game, with a lively atmosphere as fans supported their teams. The matchup was expected to be a showcase of offensive talent, particularly from Cornell, who had demonstrated their ability to score in bunches despite their defensive struggles.

As the game unfolded, it became evident that Cornell's offensive prowess would be a decisive factor. Key moments included Frankie Mannino's clutch three-pointer that gave Cornell a crucial lead late in the second half, and Tey Barbour's free throws that helped maintain their advantage. Adam Hinton also made significant contributions, including a three-pointer and free throws that extended Cornell's lead to a comfortable margin.

Ultimately, Cornell's ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities and manage the game in critical moments secured them the victory. The final score of 86-79 not only showcased their offensive strength but also highlighted the challenges Harvard faced in defending against a high-scoring opponent. This game will serve as an important reference point as both teams continue their seasons, with Cornell looking to build on this momentum and Harvard seeking to rebound from the defeat.

Odds

Book	Spread	Total	Moneyline
DraftKings	HARV -1.5	160.5 o -115 / u -105	Cornell Big Red +105 · Harvard Crimson -125

What these prices pay on $100 · What these numbers mean

Leaders

PointsRobert Hinton19Harvard Crimson
AssistsBen Eisendrath6Harvard Crimson
ReboundsRobert Hinton6Harvard Crimson
PointsAdam Hinton27Cornell Big Red
AssistsJake Fiegen4Cornell Big Red
ReboundsKaspar Sepp9Cornell Big Red

Recent form

Harvard Crimson

Last 10: 6-4Streak W371.2 scored · 69 allowed per game4-1 at home

W64-63vs Pennsylvania QuakersJan 19
W87-80vs Princeton TigersJan 17
W79-54at Columbia LionsJan 10
L68-76vs Dartmouth Big GreenJan 6
W78-69at Colgate RaidersDec 28
L59-85at St. John's Red StormDec 23
W81-53vs Holy Cross CrusadersDec 20
L69-79at Furman PaladinsDec 6
L71-78at Massachusetts MinutemenDec 4
W56-53vs Bryant BulldogsNov 29

Cornell Big Red

Last 10: 3-7Streak W191.1 scored · 91.4 allowed per game2-5 away

W89-67at Brown BearsJan 19
L68-102at Yale BulldogsJan 17
L91-102vs Dartmouth Big GreenJan 10
L99-104vs Columbia LionsJan 5
W133-65vs Alfred State PioneersJan 2
L97-114at Michigan State SpartansDec 30
W83-75at UAlbany Great DanesDec 21
L90-93at Samford BulldogsDec 8
L80-93at Towson TigersDec 4
L81-99at George Mason PatriotsDec 3

Standings

Team	Overall	Games behind	In conference
Yale	24-7	-	11-3
Harvard	17-12	1	10-4
Pennsylvania	18-12	2	9-5
Cornell	15-13	3	8-6
Columbia	16-12	6	5-9
Dartmouth	11-16	6	5-9
Princeton	9-20	6	5-9
Brown	9-18	8	3-11

Box score

Stat	Cornell Big Red	Harvard Crimson
Field goals	27-51	26-55
Field goal %	53	47
Three-pointers	11-24	12-28
Three-point %	46	43
Free throws	21-26	15-18
Free throw %	81	83
Rebounds	30	27
Offensive rebounds	8	8
Defensive rebounds	22	19
Assists	18	19
Steals	4	8
Blocks	1	4
Turnovers	11	9
Team turnovers	0	1
Technical fouls	0	0
Technical fouls, total	0	0
Flagrant fouls	0	0
Points off turnovers	11	15
Fast-break points	5	10
Points in the paint	28	24
Fouls	14	21
Largest lead	12	16
Lead changes	9	9
Time in front	41	55

How the scoring went

2nd Half54-50Jake Fiegen makes layup (Josh Baldwin assists)
2nd Half56-50Anthony Nimani makes layup (Jake Fiegen assists)
2nd Half58-50Josh Baldwin makes 20-foot jumper (Anthony Nimani assists)
2nd Half59-50Kaspar Sepp makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half59-52Luca Ace-Nasteski makes layup (Tey Barbour assists)
2nd Half59-54Ben Eisendrath makes driving layup
2nd Half60-54Cooper Noard makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half61-54Cooper Noard makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half61-55Ben Eisendrath makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half61-56Ben Eisendrath makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half62-56Josh Baldwin makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half63-56Josh Baldwin makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half66-56Cooper Noard makes 24-foot three point jumper (Josh Baldwin assists)
2nd Half66-57Ben Eisendrath makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half66-58Ben Eisendrath makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half69-58Adam Hinton makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jake Fiegen assists)
2nd Half70-58Josh Baldwin makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half70-59Chandler Pigge makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half70-60Chandler Pigge makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half70-62Chandler Pigge makes layup
2nd Half73-62Corbin Zentner makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kaspar Sepp assists)
2nd Half73-63Tey Barbour makes free throw 1 of 3
2nd Half73-64Tey Barbour makes free throw 2 of 3
2nd Half73-65Tey Barbour makes free throw 3 of 3
2nd Half73-68Robert Hinton makes 23-foot three point jumper (Thomas Batties III assists)
2nd Half73-70Robert Hinton makes layup
2nd Half73-73Robert Hinton makes 24-foot three point jumper (Thomas Batties III assists)
2nd Half73-74Robert Hinton makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half74-74Anthony Nimani makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half75-74Anthony Nimani makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half77-74Adam Hinton makes 13-foot pullup jump shot
2nd Half78-74Adam Hinton makes free throw 1 of 1
2nd Half78-77Frankie Mannino makes 22-foot three point jumper (Chandler Pigge assists)
2nd Half78-78Tey Barbour makes free throw 1 of 3
2nd Half78-79Tey Barbour makes free throw 3 of 3
2nd Half81-79Adam Hinton makes 22-foot three point jumper (Anthony Nimani assists)
2nd Half82-79Adam Hinton makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half83-79Adam Hinton makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half84-79Jake Fiegen makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half86-79Jake Fiegen makes 2-foot dunk (Kaspar Sepp assists)