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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Florida International
FIU Ruins Home Opener For Men's Hoops In Overtime
November 30, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 30, 2002
Box Score
PRINCETON, N.J. - Slavcho Slavtchev, who did not score in regulation, made two three-pointers to start the overtime and Florida International survived shaky foul shooting for a 68-65 win over Princeton in front of 4,189 at Jadwin Gym.
Florida International (4-0) never trailed in overtime and led by five in the final minute before 3 for 8 shooting from the foul line opened the door for the Tigers. Princeton cut it to two at 67-65 when Ed Persia hit one of two foul shots with 5.7 seconds to go, but FIU's Junio Matias made it 68-65 when he hit one of two from the line with three seconds remaining.
Persia was then fouled bringing the ball up the court with 0.3 seconds to go. After missing the first, Persia tried to miss the second on purpose, but was called for a violation when the ball did not hit the rim. FIU then inbounded the length of the court, but Princeton had one final chance when the ball rolled out of bounds without being touched. Princeton then inbounded the ball to Ray Robins looking for a tip and a foul, but the shot rolled out as time expired. "This is a tough place to play," FIU head coach Donnie Marsh said. "There is great history in this building. The thing that I'm most proud of is that we fight. In spite of hurrendous free-throw shooting, I think it was our defensive effort that won it for us."
Princeton (1-2), who lost to FIU 49-44 in Miami last season, had the final chance of regulation with the score at 54-54. Princeton ran 27 seconds off the clock before FIU knocked in out of bounds, and Kyle Wente's shot from his knees in the corner after the inbounds at the buzzer was short.
Spencer Gloger, playing his first game at Princeton after sitting out the last two seasons, had a game-high 19 points, along with a career high nine rebounds.
"We had a good chance to take control in the first half," Princeton head coach John Thompson said. "They did a good job controlling the pace. We were too content to pass the ball around the perimeter. Early, we were getting what we wanted, but the ball wasn't going in the basket."
There were nine lead changes and six ties in the second half, with the greatest lead being a six-point advantage for FIU with less than 15 minutes remaining. Consecutive three-pointers by Judson Wallace and Robins evened the score, and a layup by Gloger gave Princeton the lead back. From that point, the lead would never exceed four points until Slavtchev's consecutive three-pointers to open overtime.
Nikola Novakovic led four FIU players in double figures with 15 points, while Eulis Baez added 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Princeton travels to Monmouth on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The game can be heard on WCTC and GoPrincetonTigers.com.