Although the Crimson is a young team with a freshmen and a sophomore in the starting lineup. Harvard's bench is even younger. All three Crimson reserves are freshmen and are likely to see less playing time with Clemente's return.

HARVARD 67, CORNELL 57

On Friday night, the Crimson played Ivy League bottom dweller Cornell (6-11, 0-5) in an attempt to end its three-game losing streak. Harvard got the good news about Clemente only the day before, and it showed in its enthusiasm and intensity on defense in a 67-57 win.

While Clemente didn't start, he entered the game three minutes later. Immediately he and Long went to work on the offensive end. Long scored ten of Harvard's first 12 points as it jumped to a ten-point lead early in the first half. The Big Red looked lackadaisical on defense, allowing easy penetration by the Crimson guards that led to easy points.

Harvard came out defensively looking to shut down Cornell's offensive combination of 6'5 forward Ray Mercedes and 5'9 guard Wallace Prather. Collectively, it did just that. Clemente and freshman forward Sam Winter played the athletic Mercedes tough in the paint, forcing him into four turnovers and 1-of-5 3-point shooting.

"Mercedes and I have been going at it since our freshman year," Clemente said. "I always expect a tough game with him."

In the first half, despite the lead, it looked as if Harvard might foul out several of its players. Three Crimson players picked up a pair of early fouls and freshman guard Brady Merchant had four before the half was over. All told, Harvard committed 14 fouls giving the Big Red 15 first-half free throw attempts and it converted eight of them.

Both teams did a poor job of holding on to the ball in the first half also. Four of the Crimson's 15 first-half turnovers came from the rusty Clemente, and Mercedes had three turnovers and no assists in the first half alone.