Non-Conference Breakdown: Fordham

With the Harvard men’s basketball team’s season opener less than two weeks away, The Back Page is breaking down the Crimson’s non-conference opponents. Each week, we will take a look at two new foes. Over the weekend we profiled Vermont. Next up is Fordham.

When the Harvard men’s basketball team last met Fordham at Rose Hill Gym on Jan. 3, the Crimson was stunned by a team that managed to stifle Harvard offensively.The Rams’ 60-54 win marked the second loss for a Harvard squad that entered the game with a 12-1 record.

The Crimson will look to get redemption when the two teams meet again on Dec. 1 at Lavietes Pavilion.

Last season’s victory over Harvard was a highlight for Fordham, which finished the year 10-19 overall and 3-13 in the Atlantic 10. The Rams were only able to nab one win on the road, which came against Siena College, 74-59. Fordham was led by the 6’7 Chris Gaston, who currently ranks 11th on Fordham’s all time-scoring list with 1,428 career points and places sixth in rebounding.

The forward had a double-double against Harvard, putting up 18 points and 10 rebounds. The game’s leading scorer was 6’2 rookie guard Bryan Smith who posted 22 points.

While the Rams shot a season-best 48.8 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc, they held the Crimson to 36.4 percent shooting from the field and 26.4 percent from. Then-senior forward Keith Wright was held to eight points.

Gaston and Smith will both return to threaten Harvard. Junior Branden Frazier is also a key contributor for the Rams. Last year the versatile guard led the squad in assists per game, with 4.1 and a team-high 118 through the season.

Fordham graduated just two starters from last year, Alberto Estwick and Kervin Bristol. The pair together netted an average of just 9.2 points per game.