Princeton lost a basketball game to the varsity last night at the Blockhouse, 64 to 59, for Harvard's biggest upset of the year. Ed Smith ran all around a series of awkward Tiger centers to score 31 points, which proved to be the deciding factor.
Princeton took the lead first, but Smith, scoring seven of the Crimson's first 11 points, cut the gap down. Two long over-the-head set shots by Bob Bramhall tied the score and handed the lead to Harvard. Bramhall started for Jim Gabler who is suffering from the flu.
The Crimson used an effective switching man-to-man defense which kept Princeton from getting loose on the outside. The varsity's first-half shooting was their best of the year--42 percent. Tiger center Foster Cooper made three personal fouls in less than nine minutes--it was the only way he could stop Smith. Only fine rebounding by Dave Sislor and Fred Tritschler kept the Tigers in contention.
With a 35 to 27 half-time advantage. Norm Shepard's squad played steady ball and increased its lead to ten points, Cliff Kurrus quickly acquired four personals and was removed in favor of Ed Reed, who also couldn't stop Smith. The big center, with three personals, was replaced by Dick Lionette, and Princeton started to cut the Crimson's lead.
With ten minutes left to play, DeVee--Princeton's high man with 25 points--put in two lay-ups to make the score 50 to 45. Two minutes later the Crimson lead was dow nto two points, 54 to 52. Smith returned, the Crimson again pulled away.
Smith scored quick baskets on a hook shot and a driving lay-up. Two foul shots by Ambie Redmond and one by Gerry Murphy widened the Crimson's lead. Princeton's Kurrus fouled out and Cooper was hampered by four personal fouls.
Trailing 61 to 55, Princeton came back with two minutes left when DeVoe drove in under the basket and hooked in a two-pointer. In their desire to press, however, the Tigers left Smith free under the basket and he dunked in a simple lay-up.
Smith not only came within two points of the Harvard scoring record set last year by John Rockwell, but held the three opposing centers to seven points, all of them on free throws.
The summary:
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