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Princeton University
Rider
Rider Rallies To Knock Off Men's Hoops 62-59
December 18, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 18, 2002
Box Score
TRENTON, N.J. - Robert Taylor scored 18 points while Jerry Johnson ignited a second-half rally with key assists and sank the game-winning jumper as Rider rallied from 13 points down to defeat the Princeton men's basketball team 62-59 Wednesday night in front of 3,018 fans at the Sovereign Bank Arena.
Spencer Gloger led Princeton with 18 points, while Judson Wallace and Will Venable each scored 10 points apiece. Venable added a career-best 10 rebounds for his first ever double-double.
Princeton opened its biggest lead of the game when it built the score to 45-32 on a baseline three-pointer by Gloger and the first basket of the season by Konrad Wysocki, who played his first minutes of the season following a sprained ankle he suffered in the preseason. Rider called timeout and proceeded to cut the deficit to eight points, but a turnover by Jerry Johnson and a pair of free throws by Wysocki helped get the lead back to double digits with just more than 10 minutes remaining. Johnson, who came into the game leading Rider with 21.0 points per game, was neutralized for much of the game by the tight man defense by Venable, who also provided a number of sparks with timely, athletic offensive rebounds.
Rider cut the deficit from 10 points to three with a major surge at the 7:00 mark, Laurance Young buried a jumper, and then Johnson found Robert Taylor open for a three-pointer. After a Gloger miss, Taylor hit on a fast-break layup, forcing Princeton to take one of its final two timeouts with still more than six minutes remaining.
Judson Wallace rebounded his own miss on the ensuing Princeton possession and found Ed Persia alone under the basket for a layup. After a free throw by the Broncs, Wallace hit on a jumper to open a 55-49 lead. Johnson made sure that momentum was short-lived, connecting on a three-pointer and getting fouled by Venable in the process. He hit the free throw, and Rider was within two points for the first time in the second half.
It got closer quickly, as Wente missed on a three-pointer, and Wallace fouled Young on the rebound attempt. The foul put Rider in the bonus, and the junior buried both free throws to even the score.
Princeton missed on its next two possessions, and the speedy Johnson made it pay by again leading a fast break and finding an open teammate for a three-pointer. Taylor connected, opening a three-point lead for the Broncs. Wysocki cut it to one point with a layup, and following a missed three-pointer by Brandon Wahlmann, Wysocki hit on a pair of free throws to put Princeton back ahead 59-58 with 1:44 remaining.
Neither team would score on its next possessions, but Johnson would provide the biggest shot of the game with 48 seconds remaining. He drove right, stopped and hit a 15-foot jumper to give Rider a 60-59 lead. Princeton called timeout, but couldn't get a shot off before the shot clock ran out. Rider inbounded with 5.5 seconds left, and Princeton fouled Robert Reed, who sank both free throws.
Princeton inbounded to Venable, whose last-second attempt rimmed out, sending the Rider fans home thrilled with the comeback win.
Gloger's sharp shooting carried Princeton to a 32-28 advantage in the first half. The Tigers started hot, hitting a pair of three-pointers to open the game, but couldn't open much separation from Rider on the scoreboard. Gloger's first two attempts, both coming from inside the arc, were blocked. The junior, who currently leads the Ivy League with an 18.5 points-per-game scoring average, took his show outside, burying his next two shots from three-point range. He ended up shooting 5 for 8 for the half, 3 for 4 from beyond the arc, and scored 13 points.
Princeton will make its first appearance on national television Sunday when it battles No. 7 Texas at 5 p.m. The Longhorns have been ranked as high as No. 2 this season. Princeton leads the all-time series 4-2, and has won its last two games against Texas, including a 56-46 win in the semifinals of the Rainbow Classic in 1998.