News

Cambridge Residents Slam Council Proposal to Delay Bike Lane Construction

News

‘Gender-Affirming Slay Fest’: Harvard College QSA Hosts Annual Queer Prom

News

‘Not Being Nerds’: Harvard Students Dance to Tinashe at Yardfest

News

Wrongful Death Trial Against CAMHS Employee Over 2015 Student Suicide To Begin Tuesday

News

Cornel West, Harvard Affiliates Call for University to Divest from ‘Israeli Apartheid’ at Rally

Crimson Upsets Big Red, 67-66, Downs Columbia, 68-65, at I.A.B.

By Walter L. Goldfrank

Bob Bowditcn sank a 25-foot jump shot with one second to play Friday night to give the varsity quintet a thrilling 67-66 upset victory over Cornell. The Crimson came from behind Saturday to hand Columbia its tenth straight defeat, 68 to 65.

The two wins give the varsity a 2-1 League record, and 7-5 overall. In both of them, George Harrington showed signs of returning to the form he displayed two years ago, as he led all scorers with 22 and 21 tallies, respectively.

Against Cornell, the Crimson pulled ahead at the start on the strength of an effective full-court press with Bob Repetto's drive-ins. Despite the Big Red's height advantage, the Crimson maintained its early lead and went off the court at halftime with a 33-23 advantage.

22 Point Lead

At the outset of the second half, the varsity put on its finest show of the season as aggressive team defense and Harrington's set shots sparked a rally which put the quintet 22 points ahead at five-minute mark. Four minutes later, however, the Big Red ran off 18 tallies in a row, tying the score at 56-all on two fouls by Lou Jordan.

Here the action slowed down, and the varsity pulled in front again only to see Jordan hit two more free throws to tie it up with two minutes left. Then Dave Zornow scored a lay-up for Cornell. Seconds later, Repetto hit one of two fouls, making the score Cornell 64, Harvard 63.

It looked like curtains for the Crimson when the Big Red went into a freeze, but Jay Harris, leading his team with 17 points, whipped a pass that bounced into the backcourt, giving the ball to the varsity. Bowditch regained the lead on two fouls, but with 15 seconds left Zornow tallied another lay-up.

Harrington was then called for elbowing as he drove toward the basket, but with seven seconds showing on the clock, Ron Ivkovitch blew the free throw and Mike Donohue grabbed the rebound. Repetto called time out and the final buzzer sounded. However, referee Johnny Nucatola ruled that time had been called before the buzzer and awarded the ball to the Crimson at midcourt, setting the stage for Bowditch's winning goal.

Also in double figures for the varsity were Repetto with 16, Bowditch with 11, and Donohue with 10. It is also noteworthy that the hustling Crimson pulled down as many rebounds as the Big Red.

Lions Take Lead

Saturday's contest started slowly, and midway through the first half sloppy Crimson ballhandling had given the Lions an 18-10 lead. But sparked by two beautiful fast break goals by Dave Grayer on passes from Bowditch, the varsity tallied 12 straight points to gain a lead it never relinquished.

The second half saw the Crimson open up a ten point advantage at the eight-minute mark and spend the rest of the time trying to protect it. Columbia pulled within three points several times, but the varsity always managed to score in the clutch. When McClellan fouled out with three minutes to go, apprehension spread through the I.A.B., but Jack Foker did an able job as his replacement, scoring four of the varsity's last six points

Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter.

Tags