Five Meets League-Leading Cornell In Blockhouse Contest at 8:30 p.m.

The Big, Slump, which has dogged the varsity basketball team for seven straight losses, five of them to Ivy Group opponents, may continue tonight at 8:30 when the five meets league-leading Cornell in the Blockhouse.

With center Dick Manning sidelined because of a sprained ankle, the Crimson loses one of its top defensive men; even with Manning playing, Cornell defeated the varsity, 64 to 53 in the teams first meeting.

But Coach Norm Shepard feels his squad can defeat the league leaders. Sophomore Bob Bowman, who took over for Manning, injured in the warm ups before the Brown game, has proved himself capable both on defense and on the backboards. Harry Sacks, primarily an offensive player, turned in his best defensive performance of the season against the Bruins.

As Shepard admits, however, "They'll have to play as well as they did against Yale to win."

Morton Leads Team

Leading scorer and one of the best players on the team is Captain Lee Morton, 6-foot 2-inch forward, who is sixth in the league with 137 points. Paired with him will be either Max Mattes of Henry Buncom--replacing offensive star John Sheehy, out for the season on grades.

Center Ray Zelek is only a sophomore, but he is 6-4 and has totaled 115 points, and both guards, Chuck Rolles and Dave Bradfield, are accurate from "outside."

Shepard will counter by assigning guard Ed Condon to Morton, Captain Ed Krinsky to Rolles, and Bowman to either Mattes or Buncom. Sacks must stop Zelek and Bill Dennis will be assigned to two-year letterman Bradfield.

Floyd Wilson's Yardling quintet, undefeated in 13 starts, should have an easier time of it when it meets the Tufts freshmen at 3 p.m. at Medford.