M. Cagers Edge Pennsylvania

According to Harvard men's basketball coach Peter Roby, the only big game for the Crimson this season will be the one that puts Harvard into the NCAA tournament.

But last night, Roby threw caution to the wind, after the Crimson downed Pennsylvania, 77-70.

"This was the game, right here," Roby said. "This sets up everything. We're 5-0, 4-0 on the road."

The Crimson's fifth straight win, the longest streak in Roby's Harvard tenure, sets up what the coach calls a "fun game" at undefeated Princeton, who defeated Dartmouth, 64-52, last night.

"There's no pressure on us," high-scorer Tyler Rullman (18) said. "No one gives us a chance."

Rullman may not be able to say that for long.

The story of last night's game is similar to the one Harvard has been writing since the new year began. Balanced scoring and the ability to hit free throws down the stretch was the key to the Crimson victory.

Whereas last year's affair at the Palestra was dominated by Ralph James's 41 points from the field, this year's contest was dominated by James's performance from the line. The senior co-captain converted 11 of his 13 attempts from the charity stripe, including 9 of 10 opportunities in the second half.

The story for Penn, on the other hand, was its inability to knock down its free throws. The Quakers shot a paltry 42 percent (8-19) from the free throw line.

"[Contagious] is the word," Roby said. "Both in a positive and a negative way. We were struggling early this year. And now, one guy steps up and knocks two down, and the next one does the same."

The Quakers took a one point lead into halftime that was quickly erased. Rullman and Peter Condakes led a 10-4 Harvard run in the first four minutes of the second half that gave the Crimson a six point lead. That lead ballooned to 10 with six minutes to go. Yet with less than two minutes remaining, Penn was within four points, largely because of the hot hand of guard Paul McMahon and freshman sensation Will McAllister.

McAllister cut the lead to four with a minute-and-a-half to play on a driving layup.

Rullman picked up a foul on the play, but McAllister failed to convert the free throw. James once again provided breathing room for the Crimson, hitting his ninth and 10th foul shots after picking up a Penn foul. But McMahon's driving layup brought the Quakers back within four, 69-65.

After Condakes made two free throws with one minute left, McAllister nailed a 15-foot jumper to bring the Quakers back within four with just 51 seconds left.

Four Harvard free throws gave the Crimson an eight point lead with seconds to play. Despite Penn center Vince Curran's 3-pointer with 20 seconds to play, the Crimson lead was safe at 75-70.

The Crimson victory sets up tonight's first place showdown with the Ivy League's only other undefeated team, Princeton. Jadwin Gym will be packed, and the 23rd-ranked Tigers will be ready, but Roby feels that his team's early road schedule will be an advantage for his team. Crimson, 77-70 in Philadelphia HARVARD  32-45-77 Pennsylvania  33-37-70

Harvard (77): Tyler Rullman 6-9 3-3 18; Ron Mitchell 6-12 0-2 12; Peter Condakes 4-12 5-6 14; Tarik Campbell 4-5 1-2 9; Ralph James 2-10 11-13 16; Matt McClain 1-2 2-2 4; Jabbar Abdi 1-1 0-0 2; Mike Minor 0-0 2-2 2.

Totals: 24-51 24-30 77

Penn (70): Paul McMahon 9-17 0-1 20; Scott Schewe 4-6 0-0 8; Vince Curran 6-11 1-3 14; Ken Graf 0-3 0-0 4; Paul Chambers 2-6 4-7 8; Will McAllister 6-15 1-3 14; Ray Marshall 0-2 0-0 0; Dan Purdy 0-1 0-0 0; Barry Pierce 2-7 2-5 6; Mike Milobsky 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals: 29-68 8-19 70

Three-pointers: Rullman 3, Condakes, James; McMahon 2, Curran, McAllister, Rebounds: Harvard 42 (Mitchell 13); Penn 35 (Curran 12). Assists: Harvard 18 (Campbell 11); Penn 11 (Chambers 4). Steals: Harvard 2 (Condakes, Campbell); Penn 6 (McMahon 3). Blocks: Harvard 3 (Rullman 2); Penn 1 (McMahon). Fouled out: Campbell; Total Fouls: Harvard 16; Penn 23. Turnovers: Harvard 16; Penn 10.

Attendance: 2389

Harvard (77): Tyler Rullman 6-9 3-3 18; Ron Mitchell 6-12 0-2 12; Peter Condakes 4-12 5-6 14; Tarik Campbell 4-5 1-2 9; Ralph James 2-10 11-13 16; Matt McClain 1-2 2-2 4; Jabbar Abdi 1-1 0-0 2; Mike Minor 0-0 2-2 2.

Totals: 24-51 24-30 77

Penn (70): Paul McMahon 9-17 0-1 20; Scott Schewe 4-6 0-0 8; Vince Curran 6-11 1-3 14; Ken Graf 0-3 0-0 4; Paul Chambers 2-6 4-7 8; Will McAllister 6-15 1-3 14; Ray Marshall 0-2 0-0 0; Dan Purdy 0-1 0-0 0; Barry Pierce 2-7 2-5 6; Mike Milobsky 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals: 29-68 8-19 70

Three-pointers: Rullman 3, Condakes, James; McMahon 2, Curran, McAllister, Rebounds: Harvard 42 (Mitchell 13); Penn 35 (Curran 12). Assists: Harvard 18 (Campbell 11); Penn 11 (Chambers 4). Steals: Harvard 2 (Condakes, Campbell); Penn 6 (McMahon 3). Blocks: Harvard 3 (Rullman 2); Penn 1 (McMahon). Fouled out: Campbell; Total Fouls: Harvard 16; Penn 23. Turnovers: Harvard 16; Penn 10.

Attendance: 2389