Harvard gave Columbia every chance it could last night, but the Lions wouldn't take advantage of them, and the Crimson walked off with its seventh League win, 86-84.

With 1:40 remaining. Harvard led, 86-78, and didn't score again. Only three missed Columbia lay-ups with less than 30 seconds left kept the Crimson in the game. The Lions did score three baskets to move within two points, but couldn't tie the score.

The victory, which upped the Crimson's Ivy record to 7-6 -- the first time it has moved above the .500 mark this winter--virtually assured the squad of at least a tie for third place in the League standings.

Brown lost to Princeton last night, 80-56, while Dartmouth edged Cornell, 92-90. The Green is currently tied with Harvard for third place in the League, and the Bruins dropped to fifth place. Penn clinched its third consecutive Ivy League championship by dumping Yale, 86-65.

Tonight the Crimson closes its season against hapless Cornell in Ithaca, and a win will assure it of finishing in at least third place in the League standings.

The Big Red didn't present any problem to the Crimson in their previous meeting, with Harvard rebounding and shooting its way to a 99-81 victory. Cornell stayed as close as it did because of junior college transfer student Gerry Newby.

Newby, who poured in 32 points against Harvard two weeks ago, kept the Big Red within seven at half-time, 52-45, on the strength of nine-for-thirteen from the floor and three-of-three from the line for 21 points.

But tonight, if the Crimson puts the clamps on Newby, it shouldn't have much trouble with the rest of the team. Cornell coach Jerry Lace has had some difficulties with his black team members through the season that has prevented him from organizing his team to the best of its potential. The Big Red are 5-16 overall, and are resting in the Ivy League's cellar with a 1-12 record.

But the Big Red can't be completely overlooked. The Crimson, which spent the week preparing itself for the Columbia game, may not be ready after the bus ride to upstate New York.

"The only thing I worry about for the Cornell game is that we'll be suffering from a big let-down after the Columbia game," head coach Bob Harrison said Thursday. "Like the players have been saying, 'Ithaca, New York?'."