PROVIDENCE. R.I.--Brown taught the Harvard men's basketball team that a come-from-behind act is a tough one to take on the road, as they downed the Crimson, 80-70, before a gathering of 750 at Marbel Gym.

Harvard, which makes a habit of spotting opponents a hefty advantage, never recovered from the early second-half collapse that saw the Bruins nab as high as an 11-point margin.

The setback drops the Crimson's record to 12-13 overall, and 4-9 in the Ivy League, leaving them only a game ahead of cellar-dwelling Dartmouth Brown nudged slightly ahead in the standings, as it boosted its league mark to 5-8.

The Bruins opened up a 65-45 lead following a 12-4 spurt midway through the second stanza. Though Harvard chipped away at the difference, things never seemed to click. Brown fought back every Crimson attack, and the breaks just didn't go Harvard's way.

"I thought we were making a comeback with six minutes left," Crimson coach Fran McLaughlin said after the game. "Then they got three tip-ins."

McLaughlin also noted that playing catch-up forced his squad to open up the game. "When you get the floor opened up." McLaughlin said. "[Brown's] Start Langs is able to tip it in."

From the start, the game was less than artistic, with 25 turnovers in the first half alone. Harvard's offense generated ample scoring opportunities, but the cagers shot miserably, hitting just 38 percent from the floor in the opening half.

At times, the game resembled a roller derby more than basketball, as violence occurred frequently underneath the basket.

Harvard (70)

Dixon 5-12 2-2 12, Ferry 6-15 6-8 18. Trout 3-9 3-4 9, Plutnicki 2-18 7-10 11, White 3-5 2-4 8, Bernard 3-6 0-0 6, Boyle 1-1 0-0 2, Wlides 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 25-68 20-28 70.

Brown (80)

Bynum 8-11 0-0 16, Waltkus 5-9 4-5 14, Langs 3-7 9-12 15, Moulo 3-4 0-1 6, McBride 4-13 2-3 10. Brady 5-8 0-1 10, Chapman 3-5 2-2 8, Bell 0-0 1-2 1 Totals 31-37, 18-25, 80.

Halftime--Harvard, 32-31.

Fouled out--Barnard, Plutnicid. Total fouls--Harvard 22, Brown 22. Rebounds--Harvard 44 (Plutnicid 11), Brown 35 (Chapman, McBride 5). Assists--Brown 15 (Waltkus 5), Harvard 7 (Dixon 5). A --750.