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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Harvard
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Late Defensive Stands Sends Men's Hoops To Exciting Win In Ivy Opener
January 31, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 31, 2003
Box Score
PRINCETON, N.J. - Judson Wallace scored 12 points in the second half and earned a critical assist in the final minute of play to lead the Princeton men's basketball team to a 67-61 victory over Harvard in front of 5,317 fans at Jadwin Gym. It was the Tigers' 14th straight win over Harvard at Jadwin, and it was the first victory for Princeton in its 14-game Ivy League stretch.
Will Venable led all scorers with 21 points. He ignited Princeton's offense early, scoring the team's first nine points, including his only three-point attempt of the game. Wallace picked up the offensive effort from there, especially by getting to the free-throw line for 12 attempts, nine of which he made.
A pair of free throws by Harvard's Sam Winter gave the Crimson a 61-60 lead with 1:41 remaining in the contest. Kyle Wente, who had a strong overall performance in the contest, got Princeton back ahead with a pair of free throws. After the teams traded empty possessions, Winter had a passed tipped by Wente. Wallace dove for the loose ball and flicked a lead pass to Spencer Gloger, who was alone on the break. Gloger, who made only one jumper during the night and none from beyond the arc, had no trouble scoring a layup to open a 64-61 lead. Princeton's defense forced the ball out of the hands of Harvard's leading scorer, Patrick Harvey, on the Crimson's next possession. Brady Merchant missed a three-pointer from the right corner, and Wallace got the rebound. He made three free throws in the final five seconds to put the game away.
"We got stops when we needed them. Our guys understand what time of the year it is," head coach John Thompson said. "From top to bottom, the effort was there tonight."
Wente led Princeton with five assists and a career-best six steals.
"You look at Wente's line - five rebounds, six points, five assists, six steals - that's a pretty line. I thought collectively between Will, Kyle and Ed (Persia), they did a good job on (Harvey and Elliott Prasse-Freeman)."
Princeton will look to improve to 2-0 in league play Saturday night when it hosts Dartmouth at 7:30 p.m. The Big Green fell tonight 73-50 at Penn.