Wagner pictures.
Photos from today's game courtesy of Stephen Goldsmith.
Princeton JV 84 Mercer 79.
For the second straight year, Mercer County Community College scrimmaged the Princeton JV at Jadwin Gym. It was a great opportunity to watch two teams who run similar offenses face off and also a chance to observe several Tigers in action that have seen very limited playing time this season.
While the scrimmage was scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm ET, the two teams started early. Mercer had opened with a 10-0 and Princeton had answered with 10 straight by the time I arrived.
Someone I had not seen play previously was freshman forward Mack Darrow - who showed a quick first step to the basket and scored 17 points. Darrow wore #34 on Monday night instead of his varsity jersey number of #41. The Tiger JV was outfitted with Princeton's 2008-09 uniforms, complete with VBK memorial patches.
Scott Greenman is coaching the Princeton JV this year. Greenman sported a shirt from a Princeton summer camp with the mantra "One Goal. Make Shots" printed on the chest.
Greenman's offensive strategy was to put four players around the perimeter and repeatedly lob the ball inside to Brendan Connolly (#45). The Tigers' freshman center showed why he scored so many points back in Tennessee, finishing well when surrounded and making all three of his free throw tries.
Connolly ended the exhibition with 20 points.
Junior guard Bobby Foley, who hit seven three pointers the last time these two teams met, scored 11 for the Tigers. Foley was a surprising 1-5 at the free throw line.
Mercer coach Howie Levy. The Vikings have won three straight since their trip to the Verizon Center earlier this month.
John Comfort (#15, shooting) scored 13 points in the first half and 16 points in the second half, including six three pointers. His 29 led all scorers.
Comfort also had...
...an explosive breakaway dunk.
Back-to-back Comfort triples made it a 73-57 Tiger lead late in the second half.
Coach Levy joked that Greenman's strategy to play man on defense after missed Tiger shots and zone on defense after made Princeton baskets threw his team off.
The Vikings went on a 22-6 run to close within two in the final minute.
Javis Williams had a pair of impressive dunks during the run...
...plus a ridiculous 360 move to score inside.
Two Darrow free throws iced the win for the Princeton JV.
Greenman, assistant coach/shot clock operator Brian Earl, Levy and Roger Gordon talk after the scrimmage's conclusion.
Pictures courtesy of Stephen Goldsmith.
Frederick 80 Mercer 74.
Postgame audio - Coach Howie Levy (with an unexpected cameo from John Thompson III):
Early in the second half of Mercer County Community College's visit to the Verizon Center, a switch flipped.
Trailing 51-26 after falling behind by 20 at the break, the Vikings began to believe in the validity of their man offense sets, and pulled off an incredible comeback that would eventually knot the score with 2:15 to go at 70.
"The effort, the energy, the enthusiasm. I told them afterwards it was the first time that they acted like a team and played like a team," said Mercer coach Howie Levy. "It was nice to watch."
While MCCC was unable to get over that final hurdle, falling by six at the free throw line, it was a rally that appeared to unify the team behind their coach's vision.
"We just had to make a couple more foul shots and a couple more layups," said Levy wistfully after his team's surge came up short.
Photos from today's game courtesy of Stephen Goldsmith.
CC of Philadelphia 66 Mercer 54.
Mercer (1-1) dropped the second game of the MCCC Men's Classic. Guard Uros Kovacevic, who had been so impressive for the Vikings on Saturday afternoon did not suit up for the home team. Kovacevic sat out with an injury suffered against CCRI that made back-to-back games impossible.
Stephen Goldsmith was on hand to watch the action, and his photos follow.
