Friel was effusive about his visitors: "I've been coaching 20 years in Division 1," he said, "and if intercollegiate basketball was coached and represented the way Harvard did today, everyone would be very proud."

But aside from the accolades, one very tangible bright spot emerged from the game for the Crimson: the play of Harvard forward-center Fred Schernecker.

The freshman big-man, who stands 6-ft., 7-in., had not seen much playing time until Saturday, when the foul difficulties of starting center Bill Mohler (who ultimately fouled out of his second consecutive game) forced Schernecker to play 22 minutes--including the entire overtime period.

The Yardling proved more than equal to the task, scoring 11 points and grabbing six key rebounds in 22 minutes of action.

"I'm real happy for him [Schernecker]," Roby said. "Positive reinforcement came for him today--he just had to make the transition between high school and college basketball.'

New Hampshire led for almost the entire first half but was never able to stretch its lead to more than six points. Crimson junior Keith Webster (who led the team with 13 points and six rebounds) hit both ends of a one-and-one to set up a 28-28 halftime tie.

The second half was even tighter, with neither team able to pull ahead by more than three points. Phillips' second-effort bucket was the final score of regulation as Harvard went into its first overtime period of the year.

THE NOTEBOOK: The cagers host MIT tomorrow evening, with a 7:30 p.m. start scheduled at Briggs Athletic Center. "It's important that our guys don't prepare for MIT any differently than you do for Duke [a squad Harvard will face during intersession]," Roby said. "We'll be ready, I guarantee it, ready on Tuesday.