The University basketball team will play Columbia in the Columbia Gymnasium this evening at 8.30 o'clock. The chances tonight slightly favor the Columbia team, as it recently defeated the University team in the Hemenway Gymnasium by the score of 17 to 13. This is the last chance the University team has of winning second place in the intercollegiate league, having already won five games and lost three, while Columbia has won six games and lost three.

The University team is in excellent condition except Burnham, who on account of an injury to his knee will probably be able to play only the first half of the game. Although many easy goals were missed in the game with Cornell last Saturday, the team on the whole showed improvement, especially in team play. There is still, however, a tendency to foul on the part of the guards. It is expected that the signal plays, which have not worked well until very recently, will be used tonight with success.

Captain Griffiths, at right guard, is a strong player both on the offense and defense. He fills his position well, and is excellent at dribbling the ball and in shooting goals. He also manages the team well in play. Burnham, at left guard, has been the steadiest man on the team. Although he guards his man well he is weak at dribbling and shooting, and for this reason usually plays near his own goal. Amberg, at centre, is a hard man to cover on account of his height. Besides being very efficient in team play, he is good in shooting baskets. Quigley, at left forward, has a great tendency to individual work and to delay in starting off plays. He is fairly accurate at shooting for short baskets, but is inclined to risk long shots instead of passing. Broun, at right forward, covers his man too closely, and consequently is slow in breaking away when the ball changes hands. He is also slow in getting off his shots for the basket. Brooks, substitute left guard, is fast and aggressive which sometimes leads him to fouling.

The teams will probably line up as follows: HARVARD.  COLUMBIA. Broun, r.f.  l.g., Hurley Quigley, l.f.  r.g., Cuthell Amberg, c.  c., Ryan Griffiths, r.g.  l.f., Moore Burnham, Brooks, l.g.  r.f., Mellitzer

The University team will play Yale at New Haven tomorrow night at 8 o'clock.