(Special Dispatch to the CRIMSON)

WEST POINT, N.Y., January 8--Flashing its best fighting spirit to date, the undefeated Crimson basketball team outscored a highly-favored Army five here this afternoon 44 to 40 in a game that required one overtime period.

The game, which was the fifth straight triumph thus far this season for the Feslermen, appeared to be in the hands of the home team from the start. The Cadets were never headed until one minute before the end.

Dutch Lentz's men kept an average lead of 11 points over the smaller Crimson sextet. But a brilliant scoring surge, mostly in the person of sharpshooter Ed Buckley tied the game up at 37 to 37 at the end of the regulation playing time.

Buckley High Scorer

Buckley, continually baffling the cadets with his long set shots, was the top scorer of the afternoon with 22 points, half of the Crimson total. He did not finish the game, however, having been retired in the middle of the overtime period for committing four personal fouls. He scored nine field goals and four foul shots.

Trailing Buckley came Bill Webber with seven points and Bud Finegan with six. Also in the scoring column were Joe Romano and Captan Franny Simpson with three points each, Ed Rothschild two, and Art Scully one.