Men Cagers Take MIT to School, 86-50

Phillips (14) Leads Parade of Fourteen Crimson Scorers

By Jessica Dorman, December 11, 1985

Last night, it demonstrated that it could play a mean defense as well.

Six-and-a-half minutes elapsed from the time that Roby began substituting to the time that the Engineers managed to get a point. And by that time, the game--with the Crimson sitting pretty on top of a 33-9 advantage--was as good as over.

"I take that personally," Roby said after the game. "If your second team comes out and executes, is poised, and plays good 'D', I really get excited about that."

At the half, Harvard held a 45-22 edge, on the strength of buckets by 10 team members.

And in the second period, four other cagers--Dave Wolkoff, Matt DeGreeff, Rutledge Simmons and Todd Litfin--added points for the Crimson.

The Engineers, who shot under 37 percent from the floor on the night, put together a meager string of six consecutive points midway through the half, but never succeeded in drawing closer than the 23-point halftime deficit.

The cagers should face a stickier challenge Saturday, when they journey to New York City to face Manhattan College.

"We're thinking about going down there and winning, and we're also thinking about continuing improving," Roby said. "If both occur at the same time, that's great.

THE NOTEBOOK: Last night's contest had a noteworthy precedent: in the first game ever played at Briggs, the Crimson faced the Engineers--and trounced them, 83-58... Harvard has now triumphed in six consecutive meetings with MIT. The two squads have faced off 56 times... Crimson forward freshman Neil Phillips led the squad with 14 points. He has scored in double figures in each of the cagers' five contests and paces the team in season points with 66...Engineer Mike McElvoy led both squads in scoring last night, pumping in 19 points... Harvard had an off night from the charity stripe. After leading the nation in free throw percentage for the past two seasons (82.2 percent two years ago, 81.1 percent last year) and hitting at a 83.8 percent rate in its first four contests, the cagers were only 14 for 21 (66.7 percent) from the line against MIT.