PROVIDENCE, R.I.--Brown might be the dullest color in the rainbow. Except brown isn't even in the rainbow.

And Brown the hockey team ain't that inspiring, either. Last night, under the deadly dull dome of Meehan Auditorium, the Harvard men's hockey team stumbled its way to a 3-2 victory over the Bruins.

For the Crimson, now 9-0 overall and 9-0 in the ECAC, the triumph proved two old adages. One, you don't always have to play well to win. Two, Meehan is the worst place for a Harvard hockey game.

After watching his team slip all over the ragged ice, Harvard Coach Bill Cleary said, "I'm not talking out of school to say that we weren't ready to play tonight."

"It was a mess," said defenseman Butch Cutone.

There were 24 penalties--including a game disqualification spearing penalty for Brown's Steve Climo--handed out by referee Fred Campatelli, who spent a good part of the evening getting tangled up in play and blowing his whistle for no good reason.

And what better place for a messy game than Meehan, with its bad ice, slow boards and dead crowd. Worse than the sparse attendance, though, is the sound-deadening quality of the cavernous concrete structure, which this year celebrates its 25th year of marring the Harvard schedule.

Last night, coming off a road trip to Colgate and Cornell, the Crimson almost fell victim to the numbing, sleep-inducing Meehan Malaise. After staking itself to a 3-1 lead, Harvard gave up a goal on a flukey breakaway by Brown's Dan Allen and found itself ready to get decked by the feisty, if not particularly skilled, hosts.

The Bruins even got a tying goal into the Crimson net, but Campatelli already had his hand up for a Bruin penalty, and the score was disallowed.

As goalie John Devin (18 saves) fought off the Brown challenge down the stretch, the Crimson pulled together to preserve the victory and its best start in 50 years.

Harvard jumped onto the board early, as Ed Krayer directed home a Randy Taylor point shot on a four-on-four halfway through the first period.

The Crimson has now scored first in 17 straight games.

Just over a minute later, on a four-on-three power play, defenseman Mark Benning walked down the left side, waiting for a Brown player to play him. Nobody moved, and Benning found himself all alone, face-to-face with Bruin netminder Chris Harvey.

Benning faked, Harvey bit, and the puck went in.

Almost halfway through the second period, Mike Langton set up Mike Rechan deep in the slot. Rechan beat Devin, and the Bruins pulled to within a goal.

The Crimson got the insurance goal it needed from senior Tim Barakett--who had three points on the night--at 12:50 of the second. Cloaked by a Bruin defenseman, Barakett held his ground right outside the Brown crease and slammed home a nifty behind-the-net feed from Krayer.

Despite what will go in the standings as a win, the Crimson could find little to cheer about last night other than Devin's play.

"At least, I never have to play here again," Crimson Captain Pete Chiarelli mumbled after another night of misery at the Meehan Madhouse.

Crimson, 3-2 at Meehan Auditorium Harvard (9-0 overall, 9-0 ECAC)  2-1-0--3 Brown (4-6 overall, 2-5 ECAC)  0-1-2--3

First period: 1, H, Ed Krayer 2 (Randy Taylor, Tim Barakett) 10:19; 2, H, Mark Benning 2 (Barakett, Allen Bourbeau) 11:38. Penalties--B, Steve Climo (high-sticking) 0:29; B, Jim Lombardi (roughing) 3:40; H, Nick Carone (roughing) 3:40; B, Greg Murphy (roughing) 10:15; H, C.J. Young (roughing) 10:15; B, Bob Kenneally (tripping) 11:04; B, Mike Rechan (roughing) 12:21; H, Craig Taucher (tripping) 16:20.

Second period: 3, B, Rechan 4 (Mike Girouard, Mike Langton) 8:40; 4, H, Barakett 8 (Krayer, Don Sweeney) 12:50. Penalties--B, Langton (roughing) 2:25; H, Steve Armstrong (holding) 2:25; B, Kenneally (holding) 4:44, H, Andy Janfaza (holding) 4:44; H, Josh Caplan (roughing) 5:20; H, Chris Biotti (high-sticking) 8:27; B, Bruce McColl (interference) 11:32; H, Bourbeau (slashing) 11:36; B, John Caragliano (holding) 17:43.

Third period: 5, B, Dan Allen 9 (unassisted). Penalties--H, Caplan (cross-checking) 0:52; H, Benning (roughing) 9:39; H, Bourbeau (roughing) 14:03; B, Langton (roughing) 14:03; B, Kenneally (holding) 17:24; B, Climo (spearing, 5 minutes, game disqualification) 17:52; H, Sweeney (tripping) 19:50.

Saves: H, John Devin 8-4-6--18; B, Chris Harvey 12-6-10--28.

A: 1557