The Harvard men's basketball team snapped a 12-game losing string last night with a 70-64 victory over Cornell in Ithaca, showing that all it needed to remedy its woes was the "relaxation" of exam period.

Sophomore Mark Harris poured in 19 points to lead the hoopsters to their first win since December 12 when they dispatched Dartmouth, 87-81.

Knife

The cagers, who held a 31-23 halftime lead, upped the margin to a gaping 16 with 11:44 left to play. Cornell then mounted a steady comeback and sliced the difference to one (59-58) with 3:11 remaining.

The Crimson refused to fold in the face of adversity, however. Freshman Dave Coatsworth hit a clutch 18-ft. jumper and the triumph was clinched when Cornell's Mike Davis, who led all scorers with 24 points, fouled out with 2:10 to go in the contest.

"I was really pleased tonight. It's very difficult to win at Cornell," coach Frank McLaughlin said following the struggle. "We showed a lot of character out there," he added.

Co-captains Glenn Fine and Bob Hooft played their customary prominent roles, pumping home 18 points apiece. Fine, whose six assists was the highest total on either side, shot a scorching 73 per cent from the field.

Tastes So Good

"It's good to win, because we got the taste of victory back after so long," Hooft said last night.

The play of Harris was a very encouraging sign for the cagers. The 6-ft. 5-in. forward has been hampered by an injury he suffered earlier this season against Wagner, but is now fully recovered and is playing solid basketball.

The win leaves the hoopsters at 2-2 in the Ivy League and 4-14 overall. The team travels to New York today to take on the Lions of Columbia, and are looking for a win which would put them back in the thick of the Ivy race.

Bang Bang

"We had a murderous schedule before the break--six games in fourteen days followed by four games in six days. We needed a rest," McLaughlin said.

Hooft said the squad was enthusiastic about their "second season."

For fans and players alike, the victory over Cornell was welcome. But only the players welcomed the exam period.