Princeton 72 Columbia 66.

February 2, 2013 at 9:08 pm
Filed under 12-13, Audio, Basketball, Princeton

Box Score : HD Box Score

Back in December during a conversation about the decision to insert freshman forward Hans Brase in the starting lineup, replacing a team captain in the process, Princeton head coach Mitch Henderson said something prescient.

“Brendan Connolly is still going to win a game or two for us in the Ivy League.”

On a Saturday night in February with the Tigers’ defense getting knifed apart by the repeated dribble penetration of Columbia’s guards, Connolly was the second half difference-maker at both ends of the floor.

Knotted at 52 with 8:51 remaining, the difference wasn't fellow senior Ian Hummer's 12-14 free throw shooting or T.J. Bray's game-high 17 points and 3-3 marksmanship from downtown including a big jumper with the shot clock expiring.

The difference was a player who saw the floor only in the final 55 seconds of the previous evening's well-decided contest.

The difference was Brendan Connolly.

The senior center replaced the freshman Brase and with a burst of unexpected speed went around Cory Osetkowski for a reverse layup. Connolly also helped sure up the defense inside in a way Brase was unable, altering at least two drives and providing an immovable object for the Lions to try and knife past.

With the lead at three after a Mark Cisco left baseline jumper, Connolly glided to his right and tossed in a gorgeous hook shot on the run over Cisco from the center of the lane which provided needed distance in the final two minutes.

“When given the opportunity, he came through for us big tonight,” Henderson said of Connolly’s critical contributions. “I thought he did a really nice job changing the tone.”

The Tigers would make four of five free throws to keep Columbia at bay.

Princeton shot over 50% from the floor for the second straight night (23-45) and went 8-11 from three point range after starting an incredible 7-7. Also of importance: The Tigers attempted more than 20 free throws for the third consecutive contest.

Freshman Maodo Lo had some of the finest slashes for Columbia and he led his team with 16 points, Cisco adding 11.

The rest of this recap plus postgame audio from Coach Mitch Henderson, Brendan Connolly & T.J. Bray can be found after the jump.

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Saturday News:

February 2, 2013 at 9:58 am
Filed under Basketball, Denver, Fairfield, Georgetown, Northwestern, Princeton, Recruiting, Today's News

Today's Game: Columbia (9-8 / 1-2) vs. Princeton (9-7 / 2-0)
Location: Jadwin Gym - Princeton, NJ
Time: 6:00 pm ET
Radio: 103.3 fm WPRB
TV: NBCSN
Internet: goprincetontigers.com
Series History: Princeton leads 143-84.
Last meeting: Princeton 77 Columbia 66 - 2/17/12.

Purdue vs. Northwestern - 12:00 pm ET - ESPN2
Denver vs. Texas State - 3:00 pm ET
St. John's vs. Georgetown - 4:00 pm ET - CBS
Xavier vs. Richmond - 6:00 pm ET

Yale vs. Dartmouth - 7:00 pm ET
Brown vs. Harvard - 7:00 pm ET
Cornell vs. Penn - 7:00 pm ET

Join fellow site members in the forum during the action, whether you're in the stands or watching on TV at home. You must be subscribed and logged in to participate. I'll try and be more active with the forum for this game.

In addition to our recap, read about Princeton's win over Cornell on goprincetontigers.com, in the Trenton Times, in the Times Herald and on cornellbigred.com.

The Tigers are prepared for the challenges Columbia presents.

Princeton recruit Steven Cook has assumed a leadership role with New Trier this season.

Future Tiger Henry Caruso recorded a new career high.

Fairfield (13-10) made it three straight with a 69-59 home victory over Rider.

Today Northwestern hosts Purdue, Denver plays at Texas State, Georgetown goes for a "Gray Out" at home versus St. John's and Richmond welcomes Xavier.

Around the Ivy League: Harvard (11-6 / 3-0) stayed unbeaten in the league but continues to play with fire. Yale (7-13 / 1-2) could not get off a chance to tie in the final seconds at Lavietes Pavilion, falling 67-64. Even entering the last :45, Penn (4-15 / 1-1) outscored Columbia (9-8 / 1-2) by four to record a 62-58 decision. Rafael Maia had 21 on 10-11 shooting as Brown (8-9 / 2-1) topped Dartmouth (4-13 / 0-2) by 12.

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Cornell pictures.

February 1, 2013 at 11:23 pm
Filed under Basketball, Photos, Princeton, Robert Solomon

Photos from today's game courtesy Robert Solomon.

Boy, I hope you like images of Denton Koon layups...

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Princeton 76 Cornell 59.

February 1, 2013 at 9:22 pm
Filed under 12-13, Audio, Basketball, Princeton

Box Score : HD Box Score

Ian Hummer was sensational in the first half, leading Princeton back from down nine with 11:44 to go as he recorded six of the Tigers' final seven field goals before intermission and assisted on the other.

Hummer (7-8 from the floor for 18 points in 19 minutes of court time) got his team to the break +5 before deferring to teammates Denton Koon and Will Barrett in the second stanza. A seven point Princeton lead down to 41-40, Koon scored six of the Tigers' 15 in a row before Barrett added his first of three dunks on a steal and a breakaway.

Barrett was 4-4 from the floor over the final 20 minutes.

Princeton hit 16-24 (66.7%) field goals as they built an evening-high 21 point lead, before missing their last two attempts of the night with the result no longer an issue.

In a contest where Cornell's strength (repeated waves of 6'2" and 6'3" players swarming the floor) butted up against the Tigers' advantages (size and strength inside), Koon was able to shoot over Big Red guards repeatedly, converting 6-7 vesper opportunities.

Hummer and Koon each tallied 22, the total a career high for the sophomore. Hummer moved to within four points of assistant coach Brian Earl for sixth all-time in scoring at Princeton.

“[Denton] really stepped up when they were focusing more on me in the second half,” Hummer said following his team’s 19th straight conference victory at home. “He’s able to get underneath the basket and get behind the defense, which makes it really easy for guys to pass it to him. The fact that he’s able to finish in traffic with a couple guys’ hands in his face is very important for us.”

The rest of this recap and postgame audio from Coach Mitch Henderson, Ian Hummer & Denton Koon can be found after the jump.

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Friday News:

February 1, 2013 at 9:18 am
Filed under Basketball, Brian Taylor, Denver, Fairfield, Oregon State, Princeton, Today's News

Today's Game: Cornell (9-10 / 1-1) vs. Princeton (8-7 / 1-0)
Location: Jadwin Gym - Princeton, NJ
Time: 7:00 pm ET
Radio: 103.3 fm WPRB
TV: N/A
Internet: goprincetontigers.com
Series History: Princeton leads 137-79.
Last meeting: Princeton 75 Cornell 57 - 2/18/12.

Fairfield vs. Rider - 7:00 pm ET - SNY

Yale vs. Harvard - 7:00 pm ET
Brown vs. Dartmouth - 7:00 pm ET
Columbia vs. Penn - 7:00 pm ET

Join fellow site members in the forum during the action, whether you're in the stands or listening at home. You must be subscribed and logged in to participate.

I opened my address book, photo archive and audio repository to assist a lengthy Big Apple Buckets piece about Sydney Johnson's road to 100 victories. Wonder who those "couple of buddies of mine from Princeton" were...

The Trentonian previews tonight's game, as does the Cornell Daily Sun.

Denton Koon is coming into his own at guard.

Princeton Alumni Weekly writes about Brian Taylor and his work as headmaster of Teleos Preparatory Academy, digs up a 1984 article about Taylor's return to campus and also offers a perspective on the simple elegance of the "14-Game Tournament."

I was delighted to read that Mack Darrow's brother will follow his sibling to Princeton next season, and likely play football for the Tigers.

Lackawanna outscored Mercer (16-7) by an 88-82 count. Mustafa El-Amin had 24 for the Vikings in defeat.

Denver (12-8) recorded a 71-57 victory at UT-San Antonio.

Cal dropped Oregon State (11-10) by three.

Fairfield hosts Rider this evening.

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