It there is such a thing as a good loss the Harvard men's basketball team suffered of should it be enjoyed two of them over the weekend.
The cagers played two of their best games of the year taking contest with Ivy leaders Princeton and Penn down to the right before falling just short of an upset both nights.
"I'm really proud of the efforts." Crimson Coach Frank McLaughin said after Saturday 79-75 loss to Princeton. "We played as well as we could back to back. This weekend is a turning point for Harvard basketball it send a message out in the league that you better watch out for us. "McLaughlin added.
Hardly what you'd expect from a man who had just seen his squad's record fall to 12-12 overall 4-8 in Ivy action. But the cagers have reasons to be cheerful. They showed that they can compete on a level with the best that the Ivy League has to otter and they displayed the courage to bounce back from a though set back and nearly knock off the top team in the league.
And while Harvard has just two senior on its squad both Penn and Princeton will graduate their starting inter line this spring.
Not that the loss of senior Co-Captain Calson David and George White won't hurt the Cager. Playing their final Harvard home game Saturday night, the two led the late-second half charge that thought the Crimson without a half of victory.
With just over five minutes remaning and Princeton up by 12-65 53 things looked desperate for the cagers. But then things started happening Diston fan a two-on-one fast break feeding forward Ken Plutnicks for a lay in Gaurd Bob Ferry added two tree throws 20 seconds later. The Crimson got the hall again and when Diston saw an opening in the Tiger zone he drove through the lane jumped up in the air and dropped at off to White, who calmly sunk a three looter. Harvard pressed on defense and White made it pay. When Princeton loss and Crage Kubinson got the ball just across the 10 seconds line. When started it away. Before the ball could said not at hounds a leaping where hotted at upwards Ferry. While Ivy made the layup White crashed into the statisticians table. The 8-0 rally lasted less than two minutes and cut the Tiger margin from 12 points to 12 hours. But in the game final 201. Princeton hit 10 of 13 free throws and Harvard never came closer than two points. The Crimson was lucky to stay in the game Princeton hit a blustering 70 percent from the floor thanks to a shot selection that consisted of layans free throws and live looters. A perfect driver. Robinson never left the lane on route to have a first half windfall of 19 points. At the other end of the court the offense ran less smoothly. While center Manner frout talled 21 points on 10 of 13 shooting underneath most of the Crimson scoring came off perimeter jump shots Ferry pumped 18 looters to earn his 22 points while forward Greg Wildes came off the bench for 14. Harvard felt the four point setbacks to Penn and Princeton were signs of better things to come. "It's an indication that things are going to change around here," Dixon said. "We're really here now," White said. "It's just tremendous." Princeton (79) Robinson 9-13 9-10 27, Ryan 3-3 1-27, Symth 7-11 7-7 21, Sambus 1-1 3-5 5, Endorle 7-10 5-6 19. Mullin 0-1 0-0 0 Totals 27-30 25-30 79. Harvard(78) Doston 0-5 2-2 2, Ferry 8-17 6-6 22, Trout 10-13 1-3 21, Plutnicki 2-8 1-2 5, White 4-7 3-4 11, Bernard 0-2 0-0 0, Wildes 6-12 2-2 14, Boyte 0-0 0-0 0, Totre's 30-64 15-19 73. Harvard--Princeton, 41-32 Fouled out--Plutnicki, White. Total Fouls--Harvard 22, Princeton 15. Rebounds--Harvard 31 Trout 8, Princeton 10 (Robinson, Smyth, Enders) 4.
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