Horford Makes Debut, but Miami Loses, 88-86

Jim Barton scored 40 points to lead Dartmouth to an 88-86 basketball victory over Miami Saturday night, spoiling the college debut of Miami’s heralded 7-foot 1-inch center, Tito Horford.

Horford, the most highly recruited player in the country two years ago, scored 17 points and led Miami in rebounds with 10, in assists with 8 and in blocked shots with 2. He hit 8 of 19 shots from the floor and 1 of 5 from the free-throw line.

Horford, a native of the Dominican Republic, played high school ball in Houston and enrolled at the University of Houston in 1985.

The National Collegiate Athletic Assn. ruled him ineligible because of recruiting violations by the Cougars, so he transferred to Louisiana State, only to leave after an argument with Coach Dale Brown.

Against Dartmouth (4-2), Horford was most impressive in passing off to teammates when double- and triple-teammed. He showed an awkward, fall-away hook shot that seldom went in, but he made up for it with a lot of hustle under the boards for the Hurricanes (1-5).