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Princeton University Athletics
Tigers Fall To Penn State In NIT First Round
March 15, 2000 | Men's Basketball
March 15, 2000
Box Score
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - It may only be the NIT, but Joe Crispin thinks Penn State is ready to go the distance.
"Shoot, I got nothing better to do," Crispin said after Penn State beat Princeton 55-41 Wednesday night in the first round. "I just need to sit around for a few days. I got a lot of body parts that are hurting."
Crispin played through a cold to help Penn State (16-15) into the NIT with two Big Ten tournament victories on Thursday and Friday. He looked rough Wednesday, but led the way with 11 points as Penn State jumped out to a quick 15-point lead.
"It's 5-0 before we turn around, and it didn't get any better," Princeton coach Bill Carmody said. "There was not much good out there." Jarrett Stephens added 11 points and 16 rebounds, and Penn State hit eight 3-pointers, 6-of-9 in the first half.
Princeton (19-11) didn't hit much of anything, making 16-of-50 from the field (32 percent). The Tigers, 38 percent 3-point shooters during the season, missed 16 of 17 3-pointers against Penn State. Chris Young had 16 points and 11 rebounds, but the Tigers trailed by double digits the entire second half.
It didn't help Princeton that the Lions had 23 defensive rebounds and just eight personal fouls.
Princeton's 41 points were the lowest by a Penn State opponent since the Lions defeated Tennessee 42-41 in 1996.
"Some of it had to do with our defense, some of it had to do with them just not shooting well," Crispin said.
Penn State coach Jerry Dunn had everything he wanted from his team defense. They rushed the shooters on the outside and stepping into the passing lanes inside.
"The two things we had to do was take away the 3-point look, and not allow them to get easy back-door looks," he said. "The first 12-13 minutes, we really did a good job. The concentration was there."
Crispin started the rout quickly, driving in for a layup and hitting a 3-pointer as Penn State jumped out 18-3. Princeton missed 14 of its first 15 shots and shot 26 percent in the half, missing all 11 from 3-point range. It got no closer thereafter.
"It seems like early, we got a few easy opportunities, and we missed them," Carmody said.
"When they were behind as much as they were, maybe they got away from the pateince they usually have," Dunn said.
Thanks to Friday's 79-73 upset over Ohio State, Penn State is in the tournament for the fifth time since 1990. They were runners-up to Minnesota in 1998 and finished third in 1990 and 1995.
Next up is the winner of the Massachusetts-Siena game.
Crispin got a technical late in the game for arguing a no-call when the ball was stolen from him.
"I asked him to take a break," he said. "I have to be careful. I normally never do that."