ITHACA, N.Y., Dec. 16--Captain Ed Krinsky and an inspired Crimson varsity gave Cornell, the outstanding ball club in the Eastern Intercollegiate basketball League, a real scare before succumbing, 64 to 53, here tonight. The loss was the second in two league starts for the Crimson and gave it a record of two and two for the season; Cornell has not been defeated so far this year.

The Big Red was out in front during the entire game, but was of trouble only in the final minutes, for the varsity refused to quit. Cornell started fast and opened up a 20 to 10 lead by the end of the quarter.

Although the score at the half was 33 to 24, the Crimson had fought back to within four points of Cornell during the middle of the second quarter. Only the efforts of Harry Sacks, who led all scorers with 15 points for the evening, and Krinsky's brilliant ball-hawking kept the visitors in the ball game.

Then, in the third quarter, the visitors closed the gap once again to reach a 43 to 39 count and finally ended the period at 48 to 42. Pivot man Ed Blodnick scored seven of his 12 points in this quarter to lead the varsity rally. Blednick was the third high scorer for the game with 13, while Krinsky landed in second with 14 points, most of them gorgeous set shots from a distance.

Krinsky Fouls Out

Coach Norm Shepard's team then made its final threat in the fourth quarter, cutting the Cornell, lead to 55-51. But at that point Krinsky left the game on fouls, and from then on, Cornell was able to freeze the ball and build up its score.

Also fouling out for the varsity in the rough contest was Bill Dennis, who tallied seven points. Dennis played forward for the first time this season tonight, as Shepard moved Ed Condon into the starting lineup at guard.

Aside from the loss of Krinsky and Dennis, the varsity's major handicap was cold shooting on the strange court. The Crimson hit on only 12 of 53 attempts from the field for an average of 22 percent. Cornell's superior rebounding netted it 65 shots, and it scared on 22 attempts.