The varsity basketball team will face Princeton at 8:30 p.m. tomorrow night at the L.A.B. in the opener of a three-game Eastern Intercollegiate League competition. Dean Academy, which won last year's New England prep school basketball championship, will meet the Crimson freshmen in a preliminary game starting at 6:45 p.m.

The varsity will be seeking its fifth victory of the season and first in league competition. Coach Norm Shepard intends to continue with his regular starting line-up despite its 17-point trouncing by Columbia Wednesday night. Captain John Stevenson and Bill Dennis will play the forwards, with Dick Lionette at center, and Gerry Murphy and Bill Hickey at the guard spots.

The Tigers, who split two contests with the Crimson last year, have almost the same team they had then, but so far have piled up only as average won-and-lost record this winter. They will enter the Blockhouse after playing Dartmouth tonight, a factor which may cut down some of their speed and endurance.

Returning from last year's team and starting tonight for Princeton will be Dave Sisler and Tom Trizler at the forwards, 6'7" Paul Cooper at center, and Chuck Devoe at one guard.