"We were right where we wanted to be at halftime, considering the type of game they play," Carrabini (who connected on just two of five shots from the floor on the night) said of the Tigers' slow, deliberate style.

But if the Tigers slowed the tempo in the first half, they reduced in to a crawl in the second.

When Jay Bubniak smacked an 18-ft, jumper with 7:22 remaining, Princeton was on too (35-34) for good and in control with a finely turned stall.

"They got the lead," said McLaughlin, "and they spread us out."

Holding the ball for stretches of two and three minutes, the Tigers forced the hosts to foul.

Though in the closing moments Princeton put on a display from the foul line that's accounted for its 13 losses, it had forged a big enough cushion to offset its charity stripe inacurracy.

Harvard did cut the lead to 48-44, and had a shot to trim it to two. But Bob Ferry's turnaround jumper with 25 seconds to go hit hard off the backboard. The ensuing fight for the rebound then set off the fight.

A fight that was the only one the Crimson had left after its battle for the Ivy title had all but ended.

Tigers, 52-45

at Briggs Athletic Center

PRINCETON (52)--Jay Bubniak 4-1-9; John Thompson 0-4-4; Howard Levy 6-3-15; Dave Orland 1-1-3; Joe Scott 3-3-9. John Smith 4-2-10; Alan William 0-0-0; Aaron Betz 1-0-2 Totally 19-14-52.

HARVARD (45)--Joe Carrabino 2-12; Arne Duncan 3-2-8; Keith Webster 3-0-6: Bob Ferry 5-1-11; Pat Smith 3-0-6; Kyle Dodson 1-0-2; Bill Mohler 0-0-0. Totals 17-11-45.

Halftime: H, 23-19

Fould Out-Ferry, Carrabino (ejected). Smyth (ejected). Total fouls-Harvard 20, Princeton 14. Rebounds-Harvard 26 (Carrabino 14), Princeton 19 (Bubniak 6). Assists-Harvard 12 (Dencan5). Princeton 15 (Belz 4).

Att:2000.