ROUNDUP : Harvard Overcomes Its Problems, 72-68

As if playing a San Fernando Valley League basketball game at Notre Dame High was not a sufficient challenge Tuesday night, Harvard had to conquer another obstacle--playing without its flu-stricken leader, Rick Osterloh.

The Saracens compensated for Osterloh’s missing firepower--he is averaging 22 points a game--and defeated the Knights, 72-68.

Although Harvard (13-2 overall, 2-0 in league play) is off to a fine start, respectability is slow in coming.

“It’s going to take a full season,” Coach Greg Hilliard said. “We’ll be legitimized if we’re still doing this by the end of the season.”

Matt Clark paced the Saracens with 26 points, including eight in the final period. Clark buried two free throws with 1:40 to play to widen the lead to 68-63. Thirty seconds later, he swatted Marcella Anderson-Tellez’s three-point shot attempt.

Bobby DaCorsi, who finished with a game-high 30 points, made a three-point basket with 20 seconds left to trim the deficit to 70-68, but Andres Carlo iced the victory with two last-second free throws.

Carlo finished with 15 points. Paul Hewitt contributed nine for Notre Dame (7-7, 1-1).