Princeton's basketball team defeated Penn State, last night, 60 to 58, and moved into the semifinals of the NCAA Eastern Regional tournament.

Tiger All-American Bill Bradley scored a sub-par 22 points, but he got them when they counted. After the Nittany Lions, had taken a 52-50 lead with four minutes to play, Bradley pumped in two field goals and four free throws to give Princeton the win.

The game was the first of a triple-header at Philadelphia's Palestra. In the second contest, fourth-ranked Providence handed West Virginia a 91-67 shellacking. The Friars, who have been beaten only once this year, rolled up a 20-point first-half lead and coasted all the way.

Third-ranked St. Joseph's defeated Connecticut, 67 to 63. The Hawks were behind 17-6 early in the game and trailed at the half, but their tenacious zone press and the hot shooting of Marty Guokas enabled them to open a reasonably comfortable lead in the second half.

On Friday night Princeton will meet North Carolina State and St. Joseph's will play Providence in a doubleheader at College Park, Md. The winners will meet Saturday in the Eastern Finals. St. Joseph's has got to be the favorite; the Hawks handed Providence their only loss of the year two weeks ago and are now enjoying a 16-game winning streak.