Despite its second-half collapse, however, the Crimson went home feeling pretty good about its performance last night in the chilly Briggs Cage. Harvard did pull out the win and sent our buddies form the north back to Canada (baseball maybe, basketball get real) with a big "L" in their pocket.

"Tonight was a good barometer for us" Sullivan said. "We need to work on some things, but I feel good about our performance."

The Crimson seemed to suffer from a mild case of schizophrenia. The team's performance in the first half had little resemblance to its play in the second.

"In the second half we were quite sluggish," Rullman said. "But we had a good first half."

In the first half, defense was the word. Harvard's swarming man-to-man simply befuddled the Canadian folks, rendering their offense anemic.

St. Mary's did not score its first hoop until more than four minutes into the game on a three point shot by guard Richard Sullivan. Its potent offense could not tally again until 11:40 in the first half, cutting Harvard's lead to a mere 19-6.

In addition, Harvard controlled the glass. St. Mary's had virtually no second chances.

A simple formula developed for the Huskies: a missed shot, and right back on defense. Harvard went into halftime with a 21 to 11 edge in rebounds, seven to three on the offensive end.

The Crimson showed more signs (11 turnovers at half) of rust on the offensive end, but still could do basically what it wanted.

Junior point guard Tarik Campbell (five points, three assists) returning from his year off and Rullman (16 points) led the way in the first half.

St. Mary's never found an answer to the lightning quick, slashing point guard.

With 1:33 left in the first half Campbell blew by two defenders, jumped out of the building, and laid in an off balance shot while being fouled. That was just one of many great plays by the junior guard.

"I felt comfortable out there," Campbell said. "I tried to come out and pick up where I left off from two years ago. You never really lose your confidence."

When Campbell was not wreaking havoc, Rullman was raining jumpers on St. Mary's head. He went into the intermission with sixteen points on five of eight shooting.

Unfortunately, the second-half collapse was just about to rear its ugly head.