Softened by the low calibre of their recent opposition, Coach "Moe" Berg's Yardling cagers ran into a slick Exeter Academy yesterday afternoon and as the final whistle blew found themselves on the short end of a 64 to 58 score. It was the second defeat of the season for the Freshmen.

The Exeter team, at home on their large court and eager to avenge a previous loss to the Crimson, played a near-perfect ball game and twice were 14 points ahead of the Freshmen. Effectively bottling up pivot man John Rockwell with a tall center who was used against the Crimson high-scorer exclusively, the Exonians won on their accurate shooting and shrewd court strategy.

Covey Scores

With four consecutive long set shots by Dick Covey denting the rim in the last four minutes of the game, Berg's men came within five points of the prep schoolers, but the fact that Rockwell and Frank Lionette had to be used sparingly because of their personal foul totals prevented the Crimson from capitalizing on the rally.

Starting the season impressively with a victory in a practice game in Andover and going on to subdue Exeter, 50 to 34, the tall Yardlings had maintained their winning streak through four games until the powerful Brown aggregation eked out a 46 to 45 victory on January 8.

The Yardlings rolled over Squantum Naval Air Station and Tufts, and then walloped Tabor on February 6, 61 to 33, for their sixth win of the season. High-scoring Captain John Rockwell of the Freshmen made the chief contribution in this tilt by scoring 26 points.

The starting lineup: lf, Lionette; rf, Brynteson; c, Rockwell (capt.); rg, Covey; lg, Altrocchi.