box score
audio - coach sydney johnson, lincoln gunn & noah savage
One of the first things Sydney Johnson did before Princeton's Friday night Ivy opener was to write three words on the chalkboard in the Tigers' locker room - just play ball.
Throughout Princeton's 12 game losing streak, the Tigers often overcomplicated matters when holding a lead. A composed Princeton team kept Dartmouth at bay in the last eight minutes of a 57-53 victory over the Big Green. The Tigers simplified the game to its most basic principles down the stretch. Make plays on offense. Stop the other team on defense.
Lincoln Gunn fired in five three pointers on his way to a 17 point performance. Noah Savage, playing with what his coach described as "swagger in a respectful, sportsmanlike way" added 15, most on post moves in the interior.
During Princeton's exam break the TIgers worked in practice on playing offense with a smaller lineup that positioned either of the Tigers' senior co-captain forwards - 6'5" Noah Savage and 6'7" Kyle Koncz - at center. With Zach Finley on the bench with three fouls in the second half, Savage was able to get free inside while still having enough muscle to body Alex Barnett, the Ivy League's leading scorer, away from point-blank range.
Barnett put up 20 points and 10 rebounds against the Tigers, but there was a sense after the game that Dartmouth did not call the smooth, long-armed forward's number enough.
Gunn's first three point shot kissed the front of the rim and dropped through the cylinder to push Princeton up 7-3. Barnett recorded his first field goal at the 13:47 mark, fouled by Savage as he reached in for an attempted steal.
When Brandon Ware drove to the tin the Tiger lead was 9-8.
Princeton's 10-2 run would boost this advantage up to nine. A deep Gunn triple started the scoring. Savage used a high screen to pop free for his only three point shot of the night. A pair of free throws by Gunn, fouled cutting backdoor and Savage, held by Johnathan Ball on a move away from the ball, gave the Tigers a 19-10 advantage.
Dartmouth responded with 10 straight of their own. Barnett converted both free throws after being fouled posting up. The 6'6" junior from St. Louis would pull the Big Green within one with a baseline jumper and Marlon Saunders sent Darmouth back in front with a layup.
Gunn popped a second time from outside and Princeton was back up, but Sanders immediately answered at the other end.
With Finley, Kyle Koncz and Steuerer each saddled with two fouls, Coach Johnson went to some unexpected sources off the bench. Tied at 22, Johnson brought Jason Briggs in for the first time. Briggs was used as a defensive stopper against Dartmouth, especially in the final fifteen minutes of regulation, switching places with Gunn as Johnson substituted the two men repeatedly.
It was Michael Strittmatter, who played under a minute deep into Sunday afternoon's game against Division II Dominican, that provided the offensive spark. Strittmatter hooked the ball home with the shot clock running down to make the score 24-23 Tigers with 3:09 left in the first half. Strittmatter scored a second straight time in the post with the shot clock even closer to expiration and a third move by Strittmatter in the low block was altered by Barnett for a goaltending violation.
Robby Pride received a feed from Sanders and was fouled by Marcus Schroeder right before the end of the half and the Tigers had a 30-28 lead at the break.
In the first half Princeton was 11-28 from the field (39.3%) and 4-11 from behind the arc (36.4%). The Tigers went to the line six times, making four attempts (66.7%). Gunn and Barnett each tallied 11 in the opening frame. Dartmouth was 11-21 from the floor (52.4%) and 0-3 from outside (0.0%). The Big Green was 6-9 from the charity stripe (66.7%).
As play resumed, Sanders got in the lane and used a pump fake to send Finley in the air, banking home a short jumper as Finley came back down to the hardwood. Barnett picked up a deflection in the paint and laid it home to inch Dartmouth back in front by two.
The two teams would trade the lead five times over the next six minutes.
Kevin Steuerer drove to his left around Barnett for a layup. Princeton by one.
Kurt Graeber scored inside. Dartmouth by one.
Zach Finley took a pass from Marcus Schroeder and raced down the lane for a one-handed slam. Princeton by one.
Ronnie Dixon banked in a runner on the right side. Dartmouth by one.
Princeton backup center Pawel Buczak couldn't bring his hands around a Graeber miss and Graeber swatted the ball off the backboard and home to increase the Dartmouth lead to three.
The lead was still three at the 10:04 mark on an offensive rebound from Barrett.
The Tigers began a momentum-shifting 10-0 run with a one-handed push from Savage in the paint. Gunn took a pass from Schroeder and connected on his fourth three of the evening to jockey Princeton back in front.
Jason Briggs made an excellent play on defense, sliding over to strip Barnett as he began to drive the right side of the lane, one of Barnett's four turnovers. At the other end, a posting Koncz fed Gunn outside for his fifth trifecta. Kevin Steuerer completed the offensive outburst with a move from the left block, just getting the ball up to the rim, where it hung on the front of the iron, deciding where it would reside. It looked as if the ball would fall away from the netting, but after a moment of deliberation it dropped through the twine. Princeton was in front 49-42 with 5:35 to play. Dartmouth called time out.
The Big Green cut the Princeton lead to 51-48 when Barnett was able to extend his left arm far enough from the defense to bank home a jumper on the run.
With under a minute remaining, Savage inched past his man on a drive for a tough layup that deflected over the rim. Zach Finley was waiting on the strong side to bank the errant effort home, fouled by Michael Giovacchini. Finley's free throw was no good.
Dartmouth had no choice but to foul. Savage and Schroeder each converted both ends of one-and-one opportunities in the final 27 seconds to make it a three possession game.
Sanders' three point shot at the buzzer was Dartmouth's only connection from behind the arc and concluded a four point Princeton victory.
Yesterday afternoon Coach Johnson urged Princeton's fans and alumni not to get too excited about this weekend, win or lose. Just let the team play ball and see what happens. It is a long haul, but Friday night Princeton took the first step to where they eventually want to be.
Notes:
-Princeton was an efficient 10-18 from the floor in the second half (55.6%) and the Tigers finished shooting 21-46 for the game (45.7%). Dartmouth was 10-30 after intermission (33.0%) and 21-51 for the game (41.2%).
-Zach Finley went 0-3 from the free throw line and is 1-12 at the stripe over his last 10 games. Coach Johnson subbed the better-shooting Strittmatter for Finley on offense three times in the game's final 30 seconds.
-While Dartmouth came into Friday's contest leading the Ivy League in offensive rebounding %, Princeton and Dartmouth evenly split 64 rebounds, with the Big Green having nine offensive boards to the Tigers six.
-Kyle Koncz was 0-1 from the field but grabbed seven rebounds and swiped three steals in the victory.
-Princeton hosts Harvard tomorrow evening at a special 6:00 pm ET start time. The game will be televised by ESPNU.
