Penn-Princeton Box Score (PDF) | Mike Jensen column | John Feinstein column
PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team fell just short of a win over top-seeded Princeton in the first semifinal of the inaugural Ivy League Tournament, falling 72-64 in overtime at The Palestra.
The Quakers (13-15) never trailed in regulation, but the regular-season champion Tigers (22-6) forced a tie at the end of regulation, then scored the first nine points of the extra session to gain the victory.
Inside The Numbers
*This was the fourth time Penn and Princeton have meet three times in the same season in the Ivy League era; for the first time, one team (the Tigers) won all three games.
*This was Penn's first overtime game since January 9, 2016, a span of 41 games. That last OT game, incidentally, was a 73-71 loss to Princeton in The Palestra.
*Overall, this was the 16th time Penn and Princeton needed overtime to settle things. The Quakers and Tigers have had seven OT games in the 21st century, 14 since 1979.
*Freshman Ryan Betley recorded his first collegiate double-double, logging a career-high 12 rebounds to go with his 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting; on Sunday, he was named to the All-Tournament Team.
*Freshman AJ Brodeur added his sixth double-double of the season, contributing 10 points and 11 rebounds to go with a blocked shot and two steals.
*Senior Matt Howard scored 17 points in his final game at The Palestra.
*The Quakers outshot the Tigers all around, putting up 26-for-63 (40.6%) shooting from the floor and 8-for-27 (29.6%) from range compared to Princeton's 24-for-64 (37.5%) and 5-for-18 (27.8%) performance. Although the Red and Blue held a 15-4 edge on second-chance opportunities and were even on rebounds (41) and points in the paint (36), Princeton's late run was too much to handle — marking just the third time all season the Red and Blue fell in a game where they led at the half.
How It Happened
Penn jumped out to an early 7-2 lead thanks to a pair of baskets by Betley and a three-pointer from junior Darnell Foreman. Although Princeton made it 7-5 at the first media timeout, the Red and Blue turned right back to Betley, who drained a three to extend the lead back out to five with 14:55 left in the first half.
For the next five minutes, the two teams traded baskets, going into the second media timeout with Penn up, 16-15. Four of Penn's five starters found the basket in the opening eight minutes, though neither team was able to get much separation. Soon, however, the Quakers were able to string together a little 7-2 run over 1:38, capped off by a steal and fast-break layup for freshman Devon Goodman to put the Red and Blue up 23-17 with 7:32 left in the first half.
Betley made it a nine-point game with 6:09 left in the first half on a three that brought the crowd alive and put him at 12 points and seven boards in just his first 14 minutes on the floor. A Princeton three and Penn jumper were the only baskets over the next 2:40 before the Tigers began chipping away. The top-seeded Tigers pulled within two before senior Matt Howard drained a contested three to make it 33-28. A Princeton basket with under a minute left provided the halftime score of 33-30.
After Princeton scored a quick basket on the opening possession of the second half, the Red and Blue put together an 11-2 run over the next four minutes with contributions from Howard, Foreman, Betley, and Brodeur. Although the run made it a 10-point game, Princeton was able to claw back within two, at 45-43 with under 14 to play.
At 47-45, neither team scored a point for 3:15 before a Princeton free throw made it 47-46 with 9:28 left. Brodeur found the net for the Quakers, ending a five-minute scoreless drought and the Tigers immediately tied it up with a trey as the game rolled to the under-8 media timeout.
After Princeton tied it up at 53-all, the Red and Blue held them without a point for 3:42, leading 57-55 after David Cannady sank a pair of free throws with 2:32 remaining.
Tied again with 43 seconds remaining, Howard drained a contested jumper that hit off every part of the rim before finally dropping, giving the Quakers a 59-57 edge. The Tigers' attempt to tie it again was off the mark as Howard grabbed the rebound and was immediately fouled with 12 seconds to play. He missed the front end of the 1-and-1, and Princeton tied it at the other end on a put-back with 5.3 seconds remaining. Penn couldn't score on the ensuing possession, sending the contest to overtime.
The Tigers came out firing in OT, going on a 9-0 run that the Quakers simply couldn't overcome. They finally found the basket, but it was already time to start fouling, and Penn wasn't able to play catch-up as Princeton secured its spot in the Ivy League Championship game.
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