The varsity basketball team, after suppressing an early Tufts threat, coasted to a 75-66 victory last night at the IAB, its fifth against one loss. The Crimson, dominating both backboards, out-scrapped the Jumbos, who never led after the 5:15 mark.

Ed Cuffe was the game's high scorer with 24 points raising his average to 17.0, best on the team. Cuffe also led in rebounds and paced the varsity in one of its most balanced performances to date. Gary Borchard and captain Mike Donahue also hit double figures, with 12 and 11 points respectively.

Danner Breaks 8-8 Tie

After being baffled by the play of Tufts' Leroy Haythorn and Henry Ide who scored their team's first eight points, the varsity tied the score on a layup by Bob Bowditch, then went ahead to stay on a free threw by Bry Danner. Two of the visitors' top scorers were burdened with three personal fouls early in the contest helping the Crimson to maintain a lead of between four and fourteen points.

After the six-minute mark, the Crimson consistently gave away one bucket for two, including eight points by Borchard and six by Cuffe, and with 14 minutes gone, they led, 27 to 18, and Tufts called time-out. After two baskets, one a pretty spinning jumper from the keyhole by Ide, the Jumbos' 6 ft., 6 in. center, the Crimson's lead was shaved to 28 to 22. But a long jumper by Donahue and two free throws by Danner raised the margin to ten.

Crimson Margin Cut

Two long sets shots by Johnny O'Leary of Tufts, who contributed 13 points during the evening, and a tip-in by sophomore Henry Dodge, narrowed the gap to 33-28 after 18 minutes.

When O'Leary hit again on a long one-hander, the Crimson held only a 35-32 lead. But the Jumbo five could not continue its threat, and free throws by Greg Loser and Donohue gave the Crimson a 39-33 half-time margin.

Bowditch Sinks Three Jump Shots

After the half-time break, the varsity again pressed its advantage in marks-manship. Four points by Ide narrowed the Crimson's lead to 44-38, but a driving underhand layup by Borchard resulted in a three-point play at 2:25. Suddenly Bowditch found the mark and within three minutes threw in three beautiful jump shots from 25 feet out, giving the Crimson a 55-42 lead.

When Tufts again threatened to close the gap, big Eddie Cuffe took matters into his own large hands and drove to three consecutive layup baskets, two on feeds from Bowditch, at the nine minute mark.