Gamecenter: Lehigh 43, Princeton 44

Posted on by Jake Wilson in Gamecenter, Ivy League, Princeton
1st 2nd Final
Lehigh (4-7) 23 20 43
Princeton (6-2) 16 28 44
Jadwin Gym – Princeton, NJ Boxscore
 
Keys to the Game
Key sequence Princeton was struggling offensively with only 25 points after nearly 30 minutes and Lehigh had recently scored seven unanswered points to open up a seven-point lead. After the two teams traded layups, Lincoln Gunn hit a three-pointer to make it a 34-30 game. The Tigers got a pair of turnovers and a missed three-pointer at the defensive end, while hitting one of two free throws on their next three possessions to pull within one. When Noah Savage drove baseline for an emphatic two-handed slam, the Tigers led by one. Each side had numerous chances to score after a flurry of offensive rebounds, but it was still a one-point Princeton lead when Kyle Neptune fouled Gunn shooting a three-pointer. Gunn hit all three free throws to finish off an 11-0 Tiger run and put Princeton up 38-34 with 4:47 left.
Key sign it was over Princeton led by four in the final minute when Jason Mgebroff scored a layup, was fouled by Mike Strittmatter, and hit the foul shot to make it a one-point game. Marcus Schroeder only could get one of two at the line, which allowed Mgebroff to tie the game with a layup with 21 seconds left. Princeton elected not to call a timeout, and though Edwin Buffmire missed a jumper with two seconds left, Schroeder grabbed the rebound and got the benefit of a controversial foul call on Lehigh freshman Marquis Hall. Schroeder went to the line with no time left on the clock and calmly knocked down the first free throw for the win. Oddly, the officials signaled the end of the game and walked off the court with Schroeder still standing at the line, waiting for his second free throw.
Key performance Gunn started out just 1-for-5 from three-point range, but he hit two key three-pointers in the second half. The first sparked Princeton’s 11-0 run, and the second broke a 38-38 deadlock with 3:10 left. The freshman played all 40 minutes without committing a turnover, finishing with a team-high 12 points.
Key statistic Joe Scott stuck with an eight-man rotation, but he got good production from the three reserves he did play. The Tiger bench outscored their Lehigh counterparts 18-4 and outrebounded them 10-4.
Notes

– Neptune was the high scorer on the evening with 15 points, while Mgebroff added 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Mountain Hawks.

– The win was Princeton’s 23rd-straight victory over Lehigh, with the last Mountain Hawk win in the series coming all the way back in 1930.

– Lehigh attempted 38 two-point field goals and 11 three-pointers. Princeton attempted 16 two-point field goals and 19 three-pointers.

– Aside from the final possession, the Mountain Hawks dominated the glass, rebounding at 36.1 percent offensively and held the Tigers to 15.4-percent offensive rebounding.

– Justin Conway dressed, but did not play due to an injury to a muscle in his rib cage. Zach Finley started in his place once again, scoring three points and grabbing six rebounds, but committing three turnovers in 24 minutes.

– Princeton will look to improve on its best start since 1997-98 when Rutgers (3-5) comes to Jadwin Gym on Saturday, December 9, for a 4:00 pm ET tipoff.

Jake Wilson

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Basketball U.

Jake Wilson wrote 754 posts

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