CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts – Win one, lose one. So far, that’s seems to be the story for the Harvard University men’s basketball team which (as of Monday, January 8) is 7-5 overall and 3-1 in the Ivy League.

At least it’s a step in the right direction for the Crimson, which finished 12-15 overall and 7-7 in the Ivy League a year ago. They are still trying to find the same type of success they had back in the 1996-97 season, when the Crimson finished 17-9 overall and 10-4 in the Ivy League.

Andrew Gellert of Newtown is not only a junior guard with the Crimson, but one of the best defenders in the Ivy League. He set a school record a year ago with 74 steals (best in the Ivy League and 20th-best in the country) and came into the 2000-01 season with 107 career steals (school record is 213).

A solid offensive rebounder, Gellert – a potential All-Ivy League candidate – has given the Crimson another solid back court ball handler. Although a shoulder injury hampered his offensive game last year, the Crimson has seen that game improve this year. Through the first 11 games, Gellert was scoring 8.1 points a game with 36 field goals, seven three-pointers, and 89 total points.

His 50.0 shooting percentage was second on the team.

Fans will remember Gellert for his exploits on the Newtown High School hardcourt, where he finished as the second all-time leading scorer (behind Steve Kordish) with 1,147 points. He was a two-year captain, an All-South West Conference and All-State selection, and the Connecticut Post 1997-98 Basketball Player of the Year.

The Crimson will be traveling to Connecticut on Saturday, February 17, to face Yale University in New Haven. Tip off for that game is 7 pm.

Harvard University

 

PLAYER     FG    3P     TP     AVG

Clemente      77      31      216     19.6

Harvey         48      24      153     13.9

Freeman        38      18      111     10.1

Gellert          36      7        89      8.1

Merchant       34      8        62      5.6

Mayshak        21      0        50      4.6

Sigafoos        18      0        46      4.6

 Winter         23      0        49      4.4

Parker 10      1        25      2.1

Lowder         1        0        3        0.3

In the first 11 games, Andrew Gellert played 342 minutes (31.1 per game) and averaged 4.3 rebounds (second on the team) and 3.0 assists (second on the team). His 50.0 shooting percentage was also second on the team. Gellert’s high game for the season was 17 points.