PRINCETON, N.J.--For the second time in this frustrating season, the Harvard football team won the statistics, but lost the ballgame. Before 36,000 people at Palmer Stadium here Saturday, the Crimson held Princeton's powerful offense to 248 yards, more than 100 below its normal output, and picked up 300 yards of its own, only to wind up on the losing end of a 14-12 score.

Sophomore quarterback Terry Bartolet, back in the Crimson line-up after Ted Halaby had failed to move the team, put on a brilliant show to lead a Harvard comeback that almost pulled out a tie with the favored Tigers. With less than two minutes remaining and the score 14-6, the Crimson covered 85 yards on two Bartolet passes to move within a two-point conversion of a tie.

But on the conversion attempt, Princeton tackle John Craig came in fast to hit Bartolet's arm as he was trying to pass, and the ball fell far short of Jim Nelson, the intended receiver. The Tigers then ran out the clock and preserved their victory.

The game divided itself into two remarkably similar halves. After scoreless first and third periods, Princeton scored first in each half on sustained drives.

The Tigers picked up their first touchdown on a couple of breaks and a brilliant play call. A poor punt by Bruce McIntyre gave Princeton the ball on the Harvard 48, and a Hugh Scott to Barry Schuman pass moved it to the 28. Two plays first lost and then regained nine yards, but on an incomplete third down pass, the Crimson personal foul (now a regular part of the opposition's offensive strategy) gave the Tigers a first down on the 14.

With fourth and three on the seven, and Harvard expecting a running play, quarterback Ron Hagstrom called a reverse pass by wingback Mike Iseman. The pass was low and wobbly, but Schu- was all alone in the endzone and a diving catch for the touchdown.

A little later, with Bartolet at quarterback, the Crimson mounted its first real moving from the Harvard 20 to Princeton six, before Armstrong on a third down play and Scott for the home team. Armstrong's runs of thirteen, nine and twelve , and a 27-yard pass play from Bartolet, and to Messenbaugh, who lateraled to Boyda, covered most of the yardage.

After the fumble, the Crimson stopped Tigers and Jack Bullivan punted to Princeton 43. An illegal procedure called to the officials' attention by Eric Nelson, moved the ball to 28. There Bartolet passed into the where Tom Boone hauled the down out of defender Brewster hands for the Crimson's first .

Princeton moved from the second half to the Harvard 9, where Sullivan and Jim Nelson recovered. A knocked the Crimson back to the . Then Bartolet, mixing his plays and handling the ball beautifully, the team on the ground to the Princeton 41, where, on a fourth and a 1, John Yovicsin sent McIntyre in to .

This decision may have been the turn- point of the game, and, just as if wanted to prove that Yovicsin's was unwise, the Tigers, finding themselves in a indentical situation a minutes later, went for the first made it and continued to their touchdown.

Score Last-Ditch Goal

The Crimson started its last-ditch on the Harvard 15, after Boone McIntyre--for the second time in game--had inexplicably let a Sulli- punt roll between them. On the first , Bartolet threw to Boone on the Harvard 45. He ran ten yards, then lat- to Pete Hart, who was thrown out on the Princeton 33. Then Bartolet tossed a perfect lead pass to Mesbaugh for the score.

Bartolet, showing again that he is the at Harvard passer in a long time, five of ten for 150 yards and two and fully deserved his on as Back of the Game.JIM NELSON (35) carries for a two-yard gain in the second period at Princeton. Nelson, running and tackling hard, picked up 35 yards in six carries and intercepted a Princeton pass. HOBIE ARMSTRONG was the Crimson's leading rusher with 43 yards in eleven attempts.