M. Cagers Topple Wildcats

The Harvard men's basketball team was inactive for a period of 17 days and 20 minutes. The 17 days can be attributed to reading and exam periods. The additional 20 minutes is an apt description of the Crimson's lethargy during the first half of last night's game against New Hampshire.

Once Harvard (6-9 overall, 4-0 Ivy) snapped out of its torpor, however, it erased a 19-point deficit and overtook the visiting Wildcats (2-17) en route to an emotional 71-64 victory.

"In the first half we were lethargic, lackadaisical and out of it mentally, "Harvard Coach Peter Roby said. "In the second half we had our concentration and we just decided we were going to play harder. [The comeback] wasn't a coaching adjustment. It was the players deciding they didn't want to lose."

Harvard tied the game five minutes into the second half, but the outcome was still in doubt going into the final minute of play. With 1:21 remaining, UNH's Shaft Lewis hit a jumper to tie the game, 62-62. On Harvard's next possession, Tarik Campbell put the Crimson up for good with a running layup. Shaft then missed a 15-footer, and Crimson guard Tyler Rullman hauled in the rebound. Rullman, who had been silent for most of the evening, then took over from the foul line to ice the victory. Rullman accounted for the Crimson's final seven points with 7-for-8 foul shooting in a span of 40 seconds.

The catalyst of the Harvard comeback was Peter Condakes. The sophomore center, who only recently stepped into a starting role, tied a Harvard record with six three-pointers. Condakes set the tone for the second half by drilling his third trey of the game on Harvard's initial possession. His next three-pointer gave the Crimson its first lead of the game, 48-45. Condakes' final bomb put Harvard up by three, 58-55, and set the stage for the final minute.

"The coach has pretty much given me the green light to shoot the three-pointer," Condakes said. "I feel pretty confident shooting it. It's not our first choice on offense, but if we kick it into Ron Mitchell and they double or triple team him, then he can kick it back out to me and I'm pretty much wide open."

The Crimson was on fire from behind the three-point stripe all night. Ralph James connected on five trifectas, including three in the first half. Five of Harvard's first seven field goals were from beyond 20 feet. James and Condakes were the only Harvard players to launch shots from behind the stripe, connecting on an impressive 11-for-18 shots. James carried the Crimson in the first half, scoring 13 of his team's first 18 points. After James hit a layup with 11:10 left in the first half, the UNH defense tightened up on the senior Co-Captain, and the Crimson didn't score another field goal until Condakes hit a three-pointer with 2:16 left in the half.

UNH threatened to pull away for good with a a 14-0 run midway through the first half. With the score tied at 15, Wildcat guard Jeff Carr hit a three-pointer to begin a UNH barrage. Backcourt mate Jeff Cummins then hit a layup and a free throw to build the Wildcat lead to six. Teammate Tommy MacDonald came off the bench to continue the deluge, connecting for three three-pointers and 11 points in three minutes.

The Wildcats couldn't sustain their momentum in the second-half, however, performing like a team that has lost its last 31 home games. UNH may own that dubious distinction, but coach Jim Boylan hasn't lost his sense of humor.

"We just couldn't find the range in the second half," he said. "It must be the basket, because they [Harvard] couldn't find the range in the first half. We might have to measure the hoops on that end." Crimson, 71-64 at Briggs Cage New Hampshire  44-20--64 HARVARD  31-40--71

NEW HAMPSHIRE(64): Jeff Carr 8-11 0-0 18; Eric Thielen 3-7 1-3 7: Shaft Lewis 6-12 0-0 12; Bryant Davis 0-4 2-4 2; Bob Cummins 4-8 4-5 12; Tommy MacDonald 4-11 1-2 13; John Perry 0-1 0-0 0; Doug Lang 0-2 0-0 0.

Totals: 25-56 8-14 64

HARVARD (71): Tyler Rullman 1-4 7-8 9; Ralph James 8-13 0-0 21; Ron Mitchell 5-9 9-10 19; Peter Condakes 6-9 6-8 18; Tarik Campbell 1-3 2-5 4; Matt McClain 0-3 0-1 0; Jabbar Abdi 0-2 0-0 0.

Totals: 8-21 10-12 31

Three-pointers: MacDonald 4, Carr 2; Condakes 6, James 5. Fouled Out: Carr. Rebounds: New Hampshire 31 (Thielen 10); Harvard 32 (Mitchell 13). Assists: New Hampshire 12 (Thielen 4); Harvard 13 (Campbell 4). Steals: New Hampshire 12 (Lewis 4); Harvard 4 (Rullman 3). Blocks: New Hampshire 2 (Lewis, Davis); Harvard 2 (Rullman, Mitchell). Fouls: New Hampshire 18; Harvard 14, Turnovers: New Hampshire 11; Harvard 18.

Attendance: 500.

NEW HAMPSHIRE(64): Jeff Carr 8-11 0-0 18; Eric Thielen 3-7 1-3 7: Shaft Lewis 6-12 0-0 12; Bryant Davis 0-4 2-4 2; Bob Cummins 4-8 4-5 12; Tommy MacDonald 4-11 1-2 13; John Perry 0-1 0-0 0; Doug Lang 0-2 0-0 0.

Totals: 25-56 8-14 64

HARVARD (71): Tyler Rullman 1-4 7-8 9; Ralph James 8-13 0-0 21; Ron Mitchell 5-9 9-10 19; Peter Condakes 6-9 6-8 18; Tarik Campbell 1-3 2-5 4; Matt McClain 0-3 0-1 0; Jabbar Abdi 0-2 0-0 0.

Totals: 8-21 10-12 31

Three-pointers: MacDonald 4, Carr 2; Condakes 6, James 5. Fouled Out: Carr. Rebounds: New Hampshire 31 (Thielen 10); Harvard 32 (Mitchell 13). Assists: New Hampshire 12 (Thielen 4); Harvard 13 (Campbell 4). Steals: New Hampshire 12 (Lewis 4); Harvard 4 (Rullman 3). Blocks: New Hampshire 2 (Lewis, Davis); Harvard 2 (Rullman, Mitchell). Fouls: New Hampshire 18; Harvard 14, Turnovers: New Hampshire 11; Harvard 18.

Attendance: 500.