On the cover of "Palestra," eight page brochure on the Penn basketball team, is a picture of Ernest. Beck going through the air for a driving lay up. The caption reads: "Ernie Beck ... soars without wings."

It is probably the only thing that has ever been written about Beck that is not true.

For Beck, six foot four inch Quaker forward, currently holds 23 records, ranging from Ivy league's career scoring record, to the number of field goals scored on the Penn home court, 16.

Sophomore Star

Beck was only an 18-years-old sophomore when Penn played the varsity in the Blockhouse on January 9, 1951. Sophomores are edgy, inexperienced players, liable to make mistakes; thus it is understandable that he was held to eight field goals and five free thrown for a scant 21 points. Penn started a three year mastery of the Crimson, winning 61-47. A month later the friendly confines of the Palestra helped Beck only slightly-he scored one more field goal for 23 points, and Penn won again.

He set eight records that year, and one was a school field goal mark, with 230. He also get his greatest thrill from sports.

"I scored 26 points against Columbia's John Azary, even though I had a bad cold the night before."

Beck, who relies on a jump shot, but who can also lead a fast break, also set an Ivy league mark for field goals against Dartmouth that year, with 16. Somehow, though he never got the publicity for it, Beck also led the nation with rebound average, with 20 a game.

No shaky sophomore last year, when he played against the varsity here, Beck had his best night in sports. Scoring on .483 of his shots, he established an lvy league record for points in one game, 45 on 14 field goals and 17 free throws. He used the corner jump shot most of the night, and managed to keep Dick Lionette-who had a 14 point average-down to one basket and three foul shots.

Consistently Good

Said one of the referees after the game: "This is the best I've ever seen him play, but he's so consistently good that I think he's a pro prospect already."

Beck, incidentally, intends to go into the pro game with the Philadelphia Warriors as soon as the finishes two years in the Navy.

Thirty-one points against the Crimson in the return game at Penn helped Beck set the lvy League scoring record for one season last year, with 284. It took him until mid-season this year before breaking Tony Lavelli's lvy career mark of 680. In 1951-52, he set three different records for the Dixie Classic and was voted the tourney's most valuable player.

Coaches, players, and officials are always comparing Beck to other basketball greats, but his coach, Howie Dalimar, thinks it's a waste of time.

"Beck's in a class by himself," according to the former per star.

"He appears to play with so little effort that he's deceiving," adds Dallmar. "But watch him when Penn needs two points. He really moves-he has the speed and the long stride to make the most of every opportunity."

All of which is to say that Beck, and his league leading teammates will be at the Blockhouse Monday night looking for, the first place clincher. Beck scored 30 points against the Crimson earlier this year.

Penn has a good team and should win. Beck should score over 20. There is one consolation, even if he breaks 50, however. It is his sixth appearance against Harvard, and his last one.