Eagles Sour Past M. Cagers, 98-59

Yet again, the expected happened.

No big upsets were in the making as the Harvard men's basketball team fell 98-59 to the undefeated Boston College Eagles, Saturday afternoon at Briggs Cage. The loss dropped the Crimson to 0-5.

Harvard's hopes were shattered in the first two minutes, as junior guard Matt McClain went down with strained ligaments in his right knee. In a collision as he drove the lane, McClain fell down grabbing his knee.

The extent and result of his injury are pending further tests. McClain's injury forced the Crimson to have two freshman guards, Jared Leake and James White, on the court for long stretches of time.

If McClain's injury keeps him out for an extended period of time, the backcourt will be weakened. Leake, White, and senior Dave Lapointe will enjoy increased playing time, while shouldering more of the load.

White answered the call, pouring in a game high 21 points. Leake led the charge at point guard with eight assists, but turned the ball over eight times as well.

"Jared and James both came from small high schools," Coach Frank Sullivan said. "It is a radically different game, going up against teams like Duke and Boston College."

The Eagles were led by guard Malcolm Huckaby. He tallied 20 points, including a deadly four-for-five shooting from the three-point line. The three pointer was the bane of Harvard from the beginning.

The teams were tied at four apiece after five minutes of play. Huckaby then reeled off three trey's in a row and started an onslaught Harvard could not prevent.

B.C. finished with a potent 65 percent from downtown, hitting 13-for-20 behind the arc.

"The team realizes that the early part of the schedule is not kind," Sullivan said. "We try to look at it in the proper perspective."

Junior forward Tyler Rullman was another Crimson bright spot. His 15 points were integral to whatever offense Harvard had. His 15.8 points per game continue to lead the team.

Captain Ron Mitchell continued his foul problems, fouling out of his fourth game. He scored only eight points, while crashing the boards for six rebounds.

Nevertheless, he played his hardest game of the young season, hustling on both sides of the court. Mitchell shares the team lead in rebounds with Rullman, averaging 5.1 per game.

The Eagles swooping attack was complemented by guards Howard Eisley and Gerodd Abram. Eisley pumped in 15, as Abram scored 12.

Center Bill Curley kept his field goal percentage up with five for seven shooting, while dropping in 12 points. Forward David Hinton dominated the glass with nine boards.

B.C.'s shooting percentage was vastly superior to Harvard's. The Eagles shot an impressive 54.5 percent, while holding the Crimson to a paltry 42 percent.

Turnovers continued to plague Harvard: the Crimson let the ball go a whopping 31 times.

The Crimson may well get its first victory of the season when it hosts Babson College at Briggs Cage on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m