Coach Wes Fesler's Varsity Crimson hoopmen successfully cleared their first hurdle on the second half of their schedule when they repulsed the challenge of a hard-fighting Northeastern five 49 to 44 in the Indoor Athletic Building Tuesday night, but the real test for them will come at Hanover when they invade the Indians' Carnival tent Saturday.

During the examination period, action along the E. I. L. front was somewhat abated, but several games were played. Yale was shoved further into the league's cellar as a result of a defeat at the hands of the Big Red of Cornell. But more important than this game was the Yale-Dartmouth clash at Hanover in which an inspired band of Elis made things exceedingly not for the favored Big Green, and were only nosed out 34 to 32 by Moose Dudis' last-minute basket.

A Tighter Race

The final result was just another step in the Hanoverians' victory march, but the close score indicates that the men of Osborne Cowles are not unbeatable and that the going will be just a bit rougher from now on. The Elis were able to check Gun Broberg's goalward efforts, but Captain Dudis came through in the pinch.

Other contests scheduled for Saturday night in addition to the featured Harvard-Dartmouth tilt are Pennsylvania at Cornell and Princeton at Columbia. According to reports from Tigertown, this Princeton-Columbia fracas will provide an acid test as to the success of the Cappon coaching regime inaugurated this year. Cappy Cappon was slated to lift, the Tigers out of the basketball doldrums, but as yet his team has failed in every crucial test.