Tufts Five Defeats Crimson, 84-76

Hustle was not enough last night. Poor free throw shooting combined with a tendency to foul at the wrong time sent the Crimson down to an 84-76 defeat for the team's first loss after three wins, by Tufts at the I.A.B.

The Crimson actually outscored the visitors from the floor, with 29 field goals to 26, and achieved a creditable 38 percent, although the victors made 44. But from the foul line the Crimson sank only 18 of 82 while the Jumbos converted on 32 of 39, making 22 of them in the second half.

Tufts jumped to a 12-2 load after five minutes, and played the Crimson even for most of the half, opening up a 36-28 edge at the 18-minute mark. But Bob Hastings and Dick Hurley each sank a pair of field goals, and the margin was out to 36 to 31 at half-time.

The losers continued to drive in the second half, and tied the score at 36-all after 1:53 on Phil Haughey's free throw. The visitors' Pete Stanley tapped in a rebound, but Haughey evened it again with two foul shots. Hastings sank two from the line but Sam Sherman of the winners tied it once more with a push shot.

Hurley added a foul and a field goal; then Tufts captain Bob Fasciano closed the gap to 43 to 42 on a push shot. Hastings' jump shot from the foul circle gave the Crimson its last lead. Al Muench of the visitors tallied on a field goal and then two free throws at 6:44, and the Jumbos were ahead to stay.

A late Crimson drive narrowed the gap to 67 to 63 after 16:40, but a pass-in from under the basket went awry, and Tufts thereafter widened the gap by capitalizing on forecourt fouling by the losers.

Hastings Scores 25 Points

Hastings led the Crimson with 25 points, and Bob Barnett, Hurley and Ike Canty had 11 apiece. Haughey had 9, Bob Bowman 5 and Lou Lowonfels and Dick Woolston added 2 each. Fasciano and Muench had 17, while Sherman scored 16 for the winners.

Tonight the Crimson will oppose Middlebury. The veteran visiting team has defeated Union and St. Lawrence and bowed to Dartmouth. The game is at 8:30 p.m. in the I.A.B.