Smaller, but better in every respect, the Texas Longhorns branded the North Carolina Wolfpack with a searing 101-93 defeat at Madison Square Garden in the 41st National Invitational Tournament Championship last night.

Snaring a 10-point lead in the first three minutes, the Longhorns scored 14 points in a series of breakaways. Continuing to capitalize on the Wolfpack's slow start, the Texans piled up a 17-point lead on poor N.C. State rebounding, 11 breakaways, and six out-of-bounds passes, ending the half 53-37.

Despite the State's changing defenses, the second half repeated the first. The 19 points of N.C.'s highpointer, Fly "The Glide" Austin were insufficient as his frustrated team trailed throughout by as much as 24 points. Texas' Jim Krivac was highpoint scorer with 33, and ball control that made basketball look like a little man's game.

----

The Bruins won their fifth in a row with a 5-2 against the Cleveland Barons last night on two goals apiece from Rick Middleton and Stan Jonathan. The fifth Bruin goal was added by Gregg Shepard. Cleveland scored last with 1:37 remaining on a tally by Chuck Arnason.

Gordie Howe, Mike Antonov and John McKenzie set a World Hockey Association record last night by scoring three goals within 30 seconds as the New England Whalers overpowered the Indianapolis Racers 6-3 in Springfield, Mass.