Cagers Bounce B. U., 83-69 In a Lackluster Opening

For a brief stretch during the middle of the second half, the Harvard basketball team played strong, sure-handed ball against a spotty Boston University squad, and eventually won its season opener, 83-69, last night in the first round of the Beanpot Tournament at the Boston Garden.

Suffering from first-game and publicity jitters, the Crimson had trouble putting together the solid, inspired streak of scoring that could have knocked a spirited B. U. team out of reach. Harvard may have also been looking past the Terriers to its Ivy League opener this Saturday against Dartmouth in the IAB.

Harvard will face Boston College, which defeated Northeastern last night, 62-58, for the Beanpot Championship at 8 p. m. next Tuesday in the Boston Garden.

Sophomore guard James Brown paced the Crimson with a 20-point performance, and classmate Floyd Lewis added 19 while dominating the boards with 16 rebounds.

Harvard, which never trailed in the game, pulled ahead by seven early in the first half, but B. U. capitalized on a series of Crimson turnovers to tie the game. Harvard inched back ahead by four points, 37-33, at half-time.

Fools

"We made some foolish mistakes tonight, and we're going to have to work to correct them," said head coach Bob Harrison after the game. "But I'd rather have this kind of game than win by 50 points, get complacent, and then have to face Dartmouth who'll be flying high for us," he went on.

In the second half, Harvard continued its lackluster play until Brown hit a 15-foot jump shot, captain Dale Dover scored on a fast break lay-up and a jump shot, and senior forward Hal Calbom hit a jumper on a fast break. The Crimson pulled ahead by 14, and held off repeated B. U. attempts to narrow the gap.

"A lot of guys were really nervous tonight." said junior forward Brian Newmark, who came off the bench to give Harvard needed poise and inside strength. "We didn't play consistently, partly because there wasn't much direction on the floor. But that should straighten out as the season progresses."