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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton Falls To Yale In Ivy Men's Basketball Playoff
March 07, 2002 | Men's Basketball
March 7, 2002
Philadelphia - Same place. Same result.
For the second time in three days, Princeton had a tough night at the Palestra. This time, it came against Yale in the Ivy League playoffs.
Yale used a 25-8 first half run to build a comfortable lead and then withheld two brief Princeton rallies en route to a 76-60 win over the Tigers in front of 2,108.
The victory advanced Yale to Saturday night's game against Penn in which the winner will earn the Ivy League's automatic berth to the NCAA tournament. Princeton, who lost to Penn 64-48 Tuesday night to force the three-way playoff, willl await word about the NIT Sunday night.
The script was roughly the same in both games this week. Princeton shot 37.3% against Penn and 34.5% against Yale, including 8 for 29 from three-point range.
Princeton led 17-12 early, but Yale went on an 11-0 run to take the lead. It was 37-25 at intermission before the Bulldogs built an 18-point lead. Princeton would cut it to 10 twice and nine once but could get no closer.
Mike Bechtold led Princeton with 19 points and six rebounds, while Ahmed El-Nokali had 11 points and Dominick Martin 10.