M. Cagers Annihilate Suffolk, 119-86

Harvard versus Suffolk?

Why?

The Harvard men's basketball team fell six points shy of its single-game scoring record in a 119-86 demolition of Division III Suffolk at Briggs Cage last night. The Crimson's previous all-time high was 125, set against Brandeis in 1972.

Meanwhile, the big news of the night for Harvard was taking place at the Palestra in Philadelphia, where the Penn Quakers slipped past Princeton, 51-50. The Tigers' loss pulled the Crimson (9-9 overall, 4-2 Ivy) into a three-way tie for first place in the Ivy League race. (See story on page 7)

Harvard was dominant both in the paint and from the perimeter, with six players hitting double figures. Sophomore forward Ron Mitchell led the way with 18 points and Ralph James and Co-Captain Scott Gilly added 16 and 12 points respectively. The Crimson's second unit also provided offensive punch, with freshman forward Tyler Rullman pumping in 15 and Fred Schernecker and Peter Condakes scoring 13 points apiece.

"You want to try to get something out of a game like this by playing your game," Harvard Coach Peter Roby said. "I like the fact that we shot the ball really well. I was pleased with Gilly, Dana [Smith] and Rullman tonight."

Suffolk (7-12 overall) came out strong at the opening tipoff, but Harvard's size and talent were too much for the Rams. By halftime, the Crimson had built up a 74-47 lead, and the only question on the minds of the faithful fans at the Cage was, "Who is winning the Penn-Princeton game?"

"I think this is unquestionably the best team Peter has had, and he coaches to the style of his players," Suffolk Coach James Nelson said. "When Mitchell and Hollensteiner are down low, it's very difficult to guard them, and then Gilly and Schernecker are hitting three-pointers."

Size was the most glaring difference between the teams, as Harvard crushed Suffolk on the boards, 65-29, with 33 coming on the offensive end.

"It was a good all-around team win," Condakes added. "Everyone played, and everyone contributed."

But Suffolk had some success forcing the issue on offense and managed to edge Harvard in field goal percentage. Harvard also struggled from the free throw line, hitting only 63 percent of its shots.

The Crimson's second team has been weakened somewhat by the loss of freshman guard Tchad Robinson, who has decided to leave the squad temporarily to pursue other activites at Harvard.

The logical candidates to replace Robinson at the reserve off guard would be junior Ian Smith or freshman Matt McClain. McClain struggled last night from the floor, canning only two of eight shots for four points. Smith, who has seen more playing time than McClain of late, scored five points and added three assists.

"I think Ian Smith has done a good job for us," Roby said. "It hurts not to have Tchad. We have to pick up the slack, and I think we have the players to do that."

THE NOTEBOOK: Last night's game was the first and, in all likelihood, last time the two teams will meet, according to Nelson. Because of a cancellation with another Division III team prior to the season, Suffolk was penciled in as one of the two non-Division I matches that Harvard's 26-game schedule allows.

...The Ivy lead will be on the line this weekend when the Crimson hits the road for crucial contests with Penn and Princeton.

Crimson, 119-86 at Briggs Cage Suffolk  47-39--86 HARVARD  74-45--119

SUFFOLK (86): Ed Cirame 8-13 3-6 19; Davd MacDougall 4-15 1-2 9; Chuck Byrne 1-4 1-1 3; Kevin Noonan 5-6 0-1 12; John Cowley 5-12 4-4 15; Justin Colhone 1-1 2-4 4; Dave Ferrick 5-6 0-0 14; Scott Byrne 0-0 0-0 0; Scott Marino 0-1 1-2 1; Dave Vaughn 0-0 0-0 0; Chris Delillo 4-9 1-2 8.

Totals: 33-67 13-20 86

HARVARD (81): Ralph James 5-13 5-6 16; Ron Mitchell 7-10 4-5 18; Mal Hollensteiner 2-8 0-1 4; Scott Gilly 4-8 1-2 12; Tarik Campbell 2-3 1-1 5; Dana Smith 2-3 2-4 6; Fred Schernecker 5-11 1-4 13; Tyler Rullman 7-7 0-1 15; lan Smith 2-5 0-1 5; Peter Condakes 4-6 5-6 13; Matt McClain 2-8 0-0 4; Mike Minor 0-1 2-2 2; Brian Mackey 1-4 2-2 4; Steve Bowsher 1-3 0-1 2.

Totals: 44-90 24-38 118

Three-pointers: Ferrick 4, Noonan 2, Cowley; Gilly 3, Schernecker 2, James, Rullman. Fouled Out: Byrne. Rebounds: Suffolk 29 (Cirame 7); Harvard 65 (Hollensteiner 13). Assists: Suffolk 22 (Noonan 6); Harvard 24 (Campbell 6). Steals: Suffolk 9 (Cirame, Noonan, Ferrick, Delillo 2); Harvard 20 (Condakes 4). Blocks: Suffolk 3 (MacDougal 2); Harvard 2 (Condakes, Schernecker). Total Fouls: Suffolk 23; Harvard 21. Turnovers: Suffolk 27; Harvard 21.

Attendance: 400.