Donald Fleming, Crimson freshman and New Haven native, brought his basketball playing skills to Cambridge this year; but after last night's outstanding performance in Harvard's 83-71 victory over Yale at the IAB, New Haven residents probably wish Fleming had never succumbed to wanderlust, leaving home in search of Crimson hardwoods.

With 23 points, 12 rebounds, and two "face-disgrace" blocked shots, Fleming provided more than 1000 fans with excitement, while keeping the cold-shooting Elis at bay throughout the game.

Much less spectacular, but perhaps more deadly, than Fleming's spectacular turn-around jumpers and off-the-glass rejections, were Crimson co-captain Glenn Fine's ten assists.

Dealing

Fine dished off two passes to Bob Allen for easy jumpers to lift Harvard into a 19-19 tie. Then Bob Hooft hit for two of his 18 points to secure a 25-23 lead that the Crimson did not relinquish for the rest of the contest.

At this point, Fleming, about whom Coach McLaughlin said yesterday, "He can play like a stick of dynamite, or he can fizzle," exploded on the court, blocking shots, pumping in two jumpers, and intimidating Yale fast breaks as the hoopsters widened the gap to 34-23.

Meanwhile, Yale guards Dick Shea and Frank Maturo provided some explosives of their own by continually launching 20 and 25-foot cannon shots into the net to supply Yale with firepower.

Shea unfortunately injured his ankle early in the second half, leaving only Maturo to bombard the rim late in the game. Maturo ended the game with 19 points while Shea collected ten, all in the first stanza.

The Crimson played the brand of basketball Harvard fans hadn't really seen since the hoopsters left for the Far West last Decmber on one of the most grueling roadtrips imaginable.

"I said we had a great group in October. The schedule was murderous, but the kids didn't give up on themselves," said McLaughlin.

Much of Harvard's success last night can be attributed to Yale's lack of height. "They didn't have a dominating big guy," said Fine. "We matched up well against them."

The victory over Yale evens the Crimson's Ivy League record at 3-3, leaving them only one game behind tomorrow night's second-place opponent--Brown.

Rocky

Yet, even the applause Fleming, Fine, Hooft, and the rest of the Crimson hoopsters received at the end of the game did not compare with the standing ovation 3-ft. 8-in. Rocky Lavoie received following his brief appearance in a youth basketball game at halftime and then his unbelievable return to join the Yale team as it warmed up prior to the second half. HARVARD   FG  FT  R  PF  A  TP Mannix  2-5  1-2  2  3  1  5 Coatsworth  0-1  0-0  0  0  0  0 Allen  4-10  2-2  3  2  5  10 Harris  5-8  5-5  4  4  0  15 Hooft  8-15  2-2  11  5  3  18 Taylor  0-0  0-2  1  0  1  0 Fine  3-7  2-2  1  3  10  8 Clarke  1-5  0-0  3  2  0  2 Fleming  11-18  1-1  12  3  0  23 Mundy  0-2  2-2  2  0  0  2 Trumbill  0-0  0-0  0  0  0  0 Totals  34-71  15-18  39  22  20  83

FG%-48; FT%-83; Team rebounds-5; Turnovers-15 YALE   FG  FT  REB  PF  A  TP Shea  4-7  2-2  5  3  0  10 O'Keefe  0-7  0-0  0  2  0  0 Zigerelli  2-8  2-3  3  2  13  6 Maturo  9-17  1-2  2  3  0  19 Helsel  1-1  0-0  1  0  0  2 Fleming  2-6  1-2  3  1  1  5 Curry  4-7  0-2  7  2  0  8 Jolson  3-7  0-4  5  4  0  6 Masterson  0-1  0-0  1  0  0  0 Daaleman  3-8  3-4  4  4  0  9 Licwinko  3-3  0-0  3  1  0  6 Totals  31-72  9-19  34  22  14  71

FG%-43; FT%-47; Team rebounds-4; Turnovers-9 SCORE BY PERIODS Harvard  38  -  45  83 Yale  31  -  40  71