Basketball Team Blows 14-Point Lead, Drops Season's Opener to B.U., 78-77

Boston University sophomore Jim Hayes dropped in two driving lay-ups in the last 35 seconds of the game, as the Terriers overcame a 14-point deficit and upset Harvard, 78-77, in Saturday's season opener at the IAB.

As the University Society of Masochists sat mute and dibelieving. Chris Gallagher and Bob Johnson sent Harvard out to a nine-point half-time lead. But with nine minutes left, B.U. and Harvard conspired to bring smiles back to the Society's collective face.

Harvard held a 69-55 advantage, but the agile junior Gallagher--who collected 16 points and ten rebounds during the night--was sitting on the bench, collared by four personal fouls. At first the lead dwindled slowly, as the teams traded free throws.

Cold Shooting

But then the Harvard shooting eye closed--for good. In an agonizing six and one-half minute stretch, the Terriers crushed the home forces beneath an 18-1 onslaught.

Finally, with 1:49 left and Harvard ahead 73-72, Hayes grabbed an errant Crimson shot and called time. After passing the ball around for over a minute, B.U. got it to the 6'3" Hayes and cleared out the right side of the floor. He faked left, went right, and drove past Barth Royer for the go-ahead basket.

As the Terrier cheerleaders screamed, and the Harvard fans nodded in resignation, Bobby Johnson skipped down the floor and let loose with a 25-foot jumper. It bounded wide, B.U.'s Marty Schoefer grabbed the bound, and Royer fouled him.

Schoefer hit both tosses on a one-and-one situation, stretching the lead to three. 27 seconds were left and the fans headed for the exits. But Harvard captain Bobby Beller dribbled past the Terriers and gunned a pass to Jeff Grate underneath who hooked in an unreal lay-up over his left shoulder.

One-Point Game

It was now a one-point game again--and Harvard had its first field basket since Jerry O'Neil's short pop shot over eight minutes before. The Terriers scrambled to get the ball in play, but Johnson got his long arms in the way, stole the ball, and hit Grate who flipped in a three-foot turn-around. The ball trickled in over the front rim, and now it was B.U. calling for time. Eight seconds left.

Somehow the Terriers got the ball down to Hayes again, and the slick southpaw sliced in for another bucket at the two-second mark. A last gasp desperation hook by Grate fell short.

Royer led the Harvard scorers with 18 points, Bob Kanuth had 14--mostly on long, high, arching, sets from at least 15 feet--and Johnson had 10. Hayes had 25 and Schoefer 14 for B.U.

Harvard plays Wesleyan away Wednesday.