Eagles Soar Over M. Cagers, 114-66; Crimson Sore, Too: Pains Pilling Up

The Eagle has landed.

And it perched on top of Briggs Cage last night as Boston College steamrolled over the Harvard men's basketball team, 114-66, before 1600 fans.

The Crimson (3-5) had its hopes for an upset dealt a severe blow Monday afternoon in practice, when Ralph James, the team's leading scorer, dislocated his shoulder. The junior forward is expected to return in two to three weeks. Harvard also played without the services of freshman Tchad Robinson, who was out of action with a nagging groin injury.

"They came in here playing without a couple guys, and that hurt them tremendously," B.C. Coach Jim O'Brien said. "If [James and Robinson] were able to play it wouldn't have been this lopsided."

To add bruises to the already decimated Crimson lineup, sophomore Ron Mitchell was questionable before the game with a back injury. However, a hobbling Mitchell did manage to score 12 points in just 20 minutes of action.

"Ronnie Mitchell is a warrior," Harvard Coach Peter Roby said. "If I was able to choose my teammates, I would choose Ronnie Mitchell to play with any time."

Harvard's problems were not just confined to the training room. The Eagles (5-1) dominated play, forcing Harvard to commit 33 turnovers.

Despite his squad's superior talent, O'Brien took nothing for granted entering the contest.

"You have to understand the mentality of coaches," O'Brien said. "Two years ago, we played Connecticut in the Garden and they had a couple kids who didn't play, and they beat us without two of their starters. We are not talented enough to take anybody for granted."

Harvard's first basket--a Mitchell follow off a Scott Gilly jumper--and its last hoop--a Steve Bowsher layup off a fastbreak assist from Tarik Campbell--were noteworthy. But the Eagles dominated the interim.

After racing to an early eight-point lead, B.C. finished the first half with a 30-11 run to enter the locker room with a 54-27 advantage.

Just as in blowout losses to national powerhouse Duke and Big Eight contender Nebraska, the Crimson pushed the ball up the floor against B.C. The result was the same.

"They make you run and we were forced to play a lot of kids because we got tired," said O'Brien, whose team also prefers to play a fast tempo game. "They got us tired early. We had a couple kids who were begging to come out."

The Eagles placed six players in double figures, including 15-point outputs by Lior Arditti and Walter Lundy. Mitchell and freshman Tyler Rullman led the Crimson with 12 points apiece.

For the first time this season, Harvard did not employ the full court press extensively. This was largely due to the lack of depth created by the rash of injuries. But the Crimson still had trouble getting back on defense.

"Even though they didn't press that much, we were able to score a lot of fastbreak points," said B.C. forward Doug Able, the Eagles' only upper-class starter.

Eagles, 114-66 at Briggs Cage Boston College  54-60--114 HARVARD  27-39--66

BOSTON COLLEGE (114): Doug Able 3-3--9; Michael Reese 5-0--10; David Hinton 7-0--14; Louis Arditti 5-3--15; Bryan Edwards 2-0--5; Bobby Ray Smith 4-0--8; Corey Jackson 1-4--6; Michael Herren 4-2--10; Bobby Moran 4-0--10; Walter Lundy 5-4--15; Willy Foley 2-4--8; Daryl Michals 0-4--4.

Totals: 42-79 24-27 114

HARVARD (66): Ron Mitchell 3-6--12; Tyler Rullman 4-4--12; Fred Schernecker 2-0--6; Scott Gilly 2-1--7; Dana Smith 0-4--4; Brian Mackey 0-0--0; Tarik Campbell 2-0--4; Peter Condakes 1-1--3; Steve Bowsher 1-0--2; Matt McClain 0-1--1; Eric Carter 3-2--8; Mike Minor 1-1--3; Ian Smith 0-0--0; Mal Hollensteiner 1-2--4.

Totals: 20-54 22-32 66

Three-pointers: Arditti 2, Moran 2, Edwards, Lundy; Schernecker 2, Gilly 2. Rebounds: B.C. 44 (Jackson 7); Harvard 34 (Mitchell 8). Assists: B.C. 24 (Edwards, Lundy 5); Harvard 11 (DSmith, Schernecker 3). Steals: B.C. 21 (Lundy 5), Harvard 8 (Schernecker 4). Blocked Shots: B.C. 3 (Able 2), Harvard 6 (Mitchell, Schernecker, Gilly, DSmith, Campbell, Condakes). Total fouls: B.C. 27, Harvard 20. Fouled out: None. Turnovers: B.C. 20, Harvard 33.

Attendance: 1600.