Men’s Basketball Hosts Cornell on Saturday to Close Three-Game Homestand

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard University men's basketball hosts Cornell University to close out a three-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+) at Lavietes Pavilion as the Crimson continues a span of six home games in seven contests from Jan. 14 to Feb. 11.

What to Know

Harvard trails Cornell in the all-time series, 86-95. Last season, the Crimson took a 77-72 (OT) victory at home, while falling on the road, 76-61. The Crimson has posted a 19-10 record against Cornell under Tommy Amaker, The Thomas G. Stemberg '71 Family Endowed Coach for Harvard Men's Basketball.
Senior guard/forward Chris Ledlum has averaged team highs in points (18.8), rebounds (8.8), and steals per game (1.6), scoring in double figures in 17 of 19 games, netting 20 or more points eight times, and posting six double-doubles, including four in his last six outings. He has scored in double figures in 11 of his last 12 games and grabbed eight or more rebounds in 10 of his last 11 contests.
Ledlum ranks second in the Ivy League in points per game (18.8), first in rebounds per game (8.8), and third in steals per game (1.6). He also stands second in total points (358), first in field goals (137), second in free throws (58), first in offensive rebounds per game (2.9), fourth in blocks per game (1.1), and fifth in minutes per game (31.5). In Ivy League play only, he stands third in points per game (17.6), first in rebounds per game (10.2), fifth in blocks per game (1.0), third in field goals (31), and third in points (88).
In the NCAA, Ledlum ranks 11^th in field goals (137), 26^th in points (358), 42^nd in points per game (18.8), 31^st in rebounds (170), 43^rd in rebounds per game (8.9), and 45^th in double-doubles (six).
Ledlum poured in a career-high 30 points with nine rebounds and a career-best five steals vs. Loyola Chicago (Nov. 25). Ledlum notched back-to-back 20-point double-doubles with a game-high 27 points and career-best 15 rebounds in the OT win at Maine (Dec. 28) prior to game highs in points (22) and rebounds (13) at Princeton (Dec. 31). Ledlum totaled 23 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists vs. Columbia (Jan. 14). In the Crimson's battle with UMass (Dec. 2), Ledlum posted a double-double on 25 points and 10 rebounds. He scored a game-high 29 points at Northeastern (Nov. 16) and then had 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting vs. Siena (Nov. 20). At No. 4 Kansas (Dec. 22), he registered 17 points and nine boards. Ledlum went for 21 points and nine boards in the OT win at Brown (Jan. 6) and finished with a double-double on 15 points and 14 boards at Yale (Jan. 7).
Junior guard Sam Silverstein has tallied 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 82.8 percent from the free throw line. He ranks fourth in the Ivy League in minutes per game (32.6), seventh in steals per game (1.3), and ninth in rebounds per game (5.5). In Ivy only play, he ranks sixth in minutes per game (32.8). Silverstein scored a career-high 17 points with five rebounds and three assists at Fordham (Nov. 27) before grabbing a career-best 10 rebounds at Holy Cross (Nov. 30). He notched 13 points and five steals vs. Siena (Nov. 20). Over the Crimson's first week he posted 13 points and eight boards vs. Elon (Nov. 13), scored 14 points vs. Louisiana (Nov. 11), and netted 12 points with five rebounds at Morehouse (Nov. 7).
Senior guard Idan Tretout has compiled 7.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. In Ivy play, he has posted 11.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, while shooting 37.5 percent from 3-point distance. He has scored in double figures in three straight games and in four of his last six outings. Tretout scored a career-high 17 points on 6-of-8 field goals in the OT win at Maine (Dec. 28). He tallied 15 points and five rebounds at Yale (Jan. 7) and netted 12 points vs. Dartmouth (Jan. 16) and 11 points vs. Columbia (Jan. 14). Tretout totaled 10 points and six rebounds at Fordham (Nov. 27) and notched 12 points vs. Elon (Nov. 13).
Junior forward Justice Ajogbor ranks second in the Ivy League with 1.6 blocks per game and has added 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 54.3 percent from the field. In Ivy play, he paces the conference in blocks per game (2.4) and field goal percentage (.714). Ajogbor tallied career highs in points (14), rebounds (six), and minutes (26) vs. UMass (Dec. 2). At No. 4 Kansas (Dec. 22), he blocked four shots and added eight points and four boards. Ajogbor tallied 10 points, nine boards, and four blocks vs. Columbia (Jan. 14). He is the only student-athlete to start all 19 games for the Crimson this year and has tallied multiple blocks in each of 10 games this year. In the NCAA rankings, he stands 47^th in total blocks (31).
Sophomore guard Evan Nelson exploded for 23 points, six assists, and three steals, while making 8-of-12 field goals, 4-of-6 triples, and 3-of-3 free throws vs. Elon (Nov. 13). For the year, he has averaged 7.2 points, a team-best 3.4 assists, and 2.5 rebounds per game. Nelson has distributed five or more assists in each of five games this season. He scored a game-high 19 points on 5-of-9 field goals, 3-of-5 3-pointers, and 6-of-6 free throws vs. Dartmouth (Jan. 16). At No. 4 Kansas (Dec. 22), he tallied 10 points and a game-best four assists. Nelson distributed a career-high seven assists at Princeton (Dec. 31). He ranks fourth in the Ivy League in assists per game (3.4) and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6). In Ivy only play, he stands sixth in assists per game (2.8).
First-year forward Chisom Okpara has averaged 7.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game on the year, scoring in double figures six times. In Ivy only play, he has shot 50.0 percent from the field. He dropped a career-high 24 points on 10-of-13 field goals with eight rebounds vs. Siena (Nov. 20) before tallying 16 points and six rebounds vs. Tufts (Dec. 4). In his first Ivy game, he netted 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting with six boards at Princeton (Dec. 31). He notched 10 points and five boards at UC Irvine (Dec. 20), posted 11 points on 4-of-5 field goals vs. Louisiana (Nov. 11), and grabbed 10 rebounds at Northeastern (Nov. 16). Okpara has gained Ivy League Rookie of the Week three times (Nov. 14, Nov. 21, Dec. 26).
Senior guard Luka Sakota has registered 7.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game on the year. Sakota has scored in double figures seven times on the season. He hit a career-high six 3-pointers for a season-best 18 points vs. Tufts (Dec. 4). Sakota scored 14 points vs. Elon (Nov. 13), 13 points at Holy Cross (Nov. 30) and at Brown (Jan. 6), and 12 points at UC Irvine (Dec. 20).
As a team, Harvard ranks second in the Ivy League in blocks per game (4.26), points per game allowed (63.4), opponent field goal percentage (.407), and steals per game (7.58), while standing third in opponent 3-point percentage (.312) and rebounding margin (4.9). In Ivy play only, the Crimson leads the conference in scoring defense (61.2), blocks per game (5.40), and rebounding margin (5.40), while standing second in opponent field goal percentage (.398).
In the national rankings, Harvard sits 18^th in fewest fouls per game (14.1), 38^th in scoring defense (63.4), 58^th in rebounding margin (4.9), 57^th in field goal percentage defense (40.7), and 67^th in blocks per game (4.3).