Princeton wins the first game in the season series with Penn for the first time since 2001. The Tigers never trailed in the game, but failed to put the Quakers away until the final minutes. Dan Mavraides sets a new career high with 24 points to lead the Tigers. Princeton also holds Penn to 16-50 shooting (32 percent).
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
FINAL SCORE: PRINCETON 58-PENN 51.
Princeton leads 58-49, 16:5 seconds remaining.
Rosen just fouled out. Penn's floor leader will watch the last 16:5 seconds from the bench. Mavraides just set a new career high with 24 points.
Princeton leads 56-49, 26:9 seconds remaining.
Mavraides just knocked down two more free throws to equal his career high of 22 points (hopefully this won't jinx him).
Princeton leads 52-45, 44:1 seconds remaining.
Finley just fouled out. Princeton will have to go short for the rest of the game.
Princeton leads 50-43, 56.7 seconds remaining in the game.
Rob Belcore knocks down a lay-up for Penn to make the score 50-43. Penn will likely continue full court pressure and make the Tigers win the game at the line.
Princeton leads 50-41, 1:13 remaining.
Mavraides makes one of two free throws. 48-40 Princeton.
Princeton leads 47-40, 4:56 remaining.
Hummer catches a Davis air ball and lays it in to make the score 45-40. Hummer puts in another lay-up, 47-40 Tigers. Hummer has been a force in the post for Princeton tonight. Timeout by the Tigers.
Princeton leads 43-40, 6:03 remaining
Rosen knocks down two free throws to bring the Quakers within one possession. This is the closest the game has been since the first half. Fnas are getting louder.
Princeton leads 43-38, 7:44 remaining
The Quakers continue to keep the game interesting.
Princeton leads 38-31, 11:59 remaining.
Penn staying within striking distance. Rosen has made more of an effort to create his own shot in the second half, but Princeton's defense continues to do a good job of keeping Rosen out of the lane where he is most dangerous.
Princeton leads 35-29, 15:06 remaining.
First media timeout of the half.
Princeton leads 35-27, 16:20 remaining in the second half
Penn extends to full court pressure but Princeton breaks the defense down beautifully. Davis passes to Mavraides in the corner, who knocks down a three to make the score 32-24.
First Half Stats
Mavraides leads Princeton with 9 points on 4-7 shooting. Hummer has pitched in 7 points and 2 rebounds off the bench. Schroeder and Davis each have 2 assists. The Tigers' bench is outscoring Penn 13-6.
Halftime Contests
Penn's really stepping up the creativity with the fans contests. Two students raced blindfolded to try to step on a green circle at the free throw line. Not sure how to describe this one, other than the Quaker mascot (who's costume would probably scare most five-year olds) had a good time pointing the contestants in the wrong direction.
Princeton leads 29-22, Halftime.
Tigers go on a late first half run to keep the lead at 7 points. Penn had clawed back to 20-18 with Davis on the bench. Johnson has to feel a bit relieved with the halftime score given his team's early foul trouble.
Princeton leads 27-18, 1:14 remaining.
Penn extends to full court pressure for one possession but it does not effect the Tigers. Nice backdoor cut from Zach Finley leads to an easily lay-up and a 25-18 Princeton lead. Pete Carril would be proud.
Princeton leads 20-16, 3:49 remaining
Questionable foul called on Dan Mavraides. Penn is now in the bonus. With Davis on the bench, Penn has extended its defense to half court. The Tigers have struggled to adjust turning the ball over on two consecutive possessions. Penn's Malcolm Washington, son of Denzel (my favorite actor by the way), has just checked into the game.
Princeton leads 18-11, 7:42 to play.
Saunders hits a three to extend Princeton's lead to 18-11 when it looked like Penn was stepping up its defensive pressure. Davis just got whistled for his second foul with 8:36 remaining in the first half and has to go to the bench. The Tigers have 6 team fouls to Penn's 2.
15-8 Princeton, 10:13 remaining
First fan challenge of the game. Some teenager in a backwards hat has 30 seconds to make a lay-up, free throw and 3-pointer. He stalls on the 3-o pointer and throws in the towel with 5 seconds remaining to the chagrin of the Penn fans.
Princeton leads 11-4, 12:47 to play
Tigers on a 7-0 run and Penn calls a timeout after Finley's lay-up. Princeton already has four fouls. The Tigers have done a good job of slowing Zack Rosen's drives to the basket but need to do a more effective job of keeping the Quakers off the offensive glass.
Princeton leads 8-4, 15:13 remaining
Mavraides makes a reverse lay-up and gets fouled to give Princeton an 8-4 lead. Timeout on the floor with the free throw pending. Biggest story of the first five minutes is Pawel Buczak's two fouls, forcing Sydney Johnson to call on Zach Finley early in the half.
Princeton up 4-2, 17:45
Well, a few technical difficulties at the start there, but Princeton's got the early lead. Will keep you posted on all the exciting details
Starting Lineups
Princeton
Princeton vs. Penn
Hello and welcome to the Palestra. Tonight, the Princeton Tigers (14-6 overall, 5-1 Ivy League) take on the Penn Quakers (4-16, 3-3) in the latest chapter of this Ancient Eight basketball rivalry. The Tigers are coming off their first conference loss of the season on Saturday night, a 48-45 defeat at the hands of the league-leading Cornell Big Red. Penn has had one of its most difficult seasons in recent memory, struggling to a 1-13 non-conference mark. The Quakers played their best game of the season on Friday, however, handing Cornell a 79-64 loss – its first in the Ivy League.
Princeton needs a win tonight to keep pace in the conference standings.