HANOVER, N.H., Feb. 17--A cold varsity basketball team, which couldn't hit or do anything right for two-and-a-half quarters, lost to Dartmouth, 78 to 60, here tonight. The loss, its fourth straight, dropped the Crimson to a 500 record in its 18 games to date.

Unable to control either backboard or to penetrate the Indians' tight zone defense, the varsity fell behind, 18 to 9, at the end of the first quarter and trailed, 41 to 22, at the half. The Crimson scored on only 19 percent of the few shots it could get away in the first half and hit on bat 13 of 55 for the whole dismal evening.

From the third minute of the second period to the seventh minute of the third period, the varsity couldn't score a field goal, and it was off from the foul line as well, making but 34 of 60 for the night.

After the middle of the third quarter Captain Ed Krinsky initiated a full court press and the visitors began to click, but by then it was too late to close the barn door. High scorer for the rallying Crimson was Harry Sacks, who tallied 14 points all of them on free throws.

Gene Givens led the big, balanced Dartmouth team with 16, but Dick Fairley's rebounding was the decisive factor in the Green victory. The tall junior, a substitute earlier in the season, started the contest; Coach Daggy Julian didn't even use two of his standouts, Captain Pete Geithner and Paul Wisdom. These two men had starred in Dartmouth's two previous wins over the Crimson this winter.

Yardlings Win

Meanwhile, the Yardling basketball team reached number 11 on its road to a perfect season last night, easily beating Northeastern, 73 to 59, at the I.A.B.

Hook shot artist Bob Canty gained ground in his individual scoring race with Captain Bob Dolven, netting 20 points to Dolven's 11. Second to Canty in the game was Northeastern's Jim Burns, who scored 19, and following Burns was Yardling Bill Schreiber with 15.