Harvard Hoopsters Bring Final Victory for Wilson

HANOVER, N.H., Tues., March 5-- With seven seconds left in Floyd Wilson's Harvard basketball coaching career, junior guard Eric Gustavson calmly sank two free throws to bring the Crimson a 75-72 victory over Dartmouth here tonight.

With its victory, Harvard escaped sole possession of the league cellar. Finishing 4-10, Harvard winds up in a sixth place tie with Brown and Pennsylvania.

Shooting exceptionally well, the psyched-up Crimson raced to a 52-36 lead with ten minutes left in the game. But then Dartmouth guards Henry Tyson and Karl Steinmanis put on effective ball-hawking pressure and the lead shrunk rapidly.

Indian captain Joe Colgan, hitting from the outside, sparked the offensive side of the surge. Ten seconds from the end Colgan dropped in a bucket, bringing Dartmouth within one, 73-72.

Harvard called time out and Wilson chose the poised Gustavson to bring the ball up court. The blond gunner was fouled by Steinmanis. Reacting quickly, the officials gave Gustavson two shots, calling Steinmanis's infraction an intentional foul.

Gustavson Comes Through

For the third time in his career, Gustavson stepped to the line and did the job. As he did against Brown earlier, he swished the clutch shots to clinch the game.

Gustavson led the Harvard scorers with 16 points, including eight free throws in eight attempts in the second half. Four other Crimson players scored in double figures.

Senior guard Jeff Grate had 14 points, six rebounds and several defensive steals. This was the last game for him, captain Bobby Beller and Jim Griswold.

In the freshman game, Harvard won 60-56 oin the strength of 6-8 center George Yates's 24 points. Featuring a 6-2 guard from New York, Dale Dover, and two or three other varsity prospects, the freshmen wound up the season 11-4.

Speculation continued on the identity of Wilson's successor. Several names have been mentioned in informed circles, including those of two successful local coaches, but a decision has not yet been reached.

It had to be a great thrill for Wilson to close out his 14-year career with impressive victories over third place Yale and fourth-place Dartmouth. Once again, Harvard basketball fans are left with the haunting feeling that maybe next year will be the year of the IAB.