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Princeton University Athletics
Men's Basketball Returns Home to Face Red-Hot Lafayette
December 21, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2003
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The Princeton men's basketball team already knows what it's like to face teams on a roll, and its that kind of roll the Tigers hope to start when they face red-hot Lafayette Monday night at Jadwin Gym.
The 4-3 Tigers haven't played at Jadwin since late November, and Princeton hopes to repeat its strong performances from those first two games of the year, each of which came against a Patriot League opponent. The Tigers defeated preseason league favorite Holy Cross Nov. 28 by a 61-55 score behind a career-high 31 points from center Judson Wallace and handled Colgate 73-64 at Jadwin Nov. 21 behind 28 points and 11 rebounds from Wallace.
In two games this season on their home court, the Tigers are shooting 49 for 87 (56.3%) from the field and have assists on 34 of those 49 baskets.
The Leopards come to Princeton 7-1 overall and on a seven-game winning streak after a season-opening six-point loss at Rutgers back on Nov. 22. Lafayette is averaging nearly 80 points per game this season and getting big contributions off its bench from 6-8, 275-lb. junior center Sean Knitter, a transfer from Delaware who scored 23 points in an 87-79 Leopard win over Cornell Saturday.
Princeton is 32-4 all-time against Lafayette at home and has won seven of the last 10 games in the series, including a 14-point road win last year. The Leopards' lone win at Jadwin Gym came in January of 2000, a 70-69 overtime victory. NOTE OF THE DAY
Patriot Games Princeton has already defeated the teams chosen to finish first (Holy Cross) and third (Colgate) in the Patriot League's preseason poll this season. Lafayette was chosen to finish second in the league in that poll.
EIGHT MORE THINGS YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT
On Schedule - Including Lafayette, today's opponent, Princeton's last three opponents have a combined record of 21-3 (Lafayette 7-1, Duke 8-1, Rutgers 6-1).
Center of Attention - Judson Wallace is averaging 29.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in two games at Jadwin Gym this season. Wallace had 28 points against Colgate and 31 points against Holy Cross.
From the Home Front... - The Tigers are shooting 56.3% from the field in their two home games this season.
More From the Home Front... - Princeton has a 32-4 record against Lafayette in games played in Princeton and an 8-1 record against the Leopards in Jadwin Gym.
Even More From the Home Front... - Princeton returns home today after a 24-day stretch with five straight away games; Lafayette has played six of its eight games at home this season, including its last four.
The Arc de Triomphe - In their four wins this season, the Tigers are shooting 32 for 78 (41%) from three-point range. In their three losses, the Tigers are shooting just 18 for 68 (26%) from beyond the arc.
Cameron Craziness - The Tigers trailed No. 3 Duke by just four points at halftime Wednesday and trailed by just eight points with under six minutes left. The Blue Devils had defeated Portland by 41 points three days earlier and beat 10th-ranked Texas by 28 points three days later.
Shooting Stars - Princeton has shot better than 50% from the field in four of its seven games this season.
MORE NOTES & ANECDOTES
Thanks for the Help - Princeton has assists on 106 of its 157 baskets this season (68%).
Balancing Act - Ed Persia, Will Venable and Konrad Wysocki have each started every game and each scored exactly 52 points this season.
Taking Care of It - Ed Persia and Will Venable rank first (29-14, 2.07) and second (29-17, 1.70) respectively in the Ivy League in assist-to-turnover ratio.
Handling With Care - Princeton's starting backcourt (Ed Persia, Will Venable, Scott Greenman) has combined for 69 assists and just 36 turnovers this season.
They Call ?em Layups - The Tigers are shooting 63% this season (107 for 169) on two-point shots.
Close Calls - Two of Princeton's losses this year (UC Irvine, Rutgers) have come by two points, and the Tigers had a chance to win each of those games in the final 10 seconds of regulation.
The Streak Continues! - Princeton, along with Vanderbilt and UNLV, are the only teams to have made at least one three-point shot in every game since the rule came into effect for the 1986-87 season. The Tigers' streak currently stands at 473 games.
Nice to Have You Back - Andre Logan is shooting 12 for 18 from the field and averaging 13.5 points per game in his last two games. Logan led Princeton with 16 points off the bench at Duke.
The Big Fella - Mike Stephens came off the bench to score a career-high 10 points and add two blocks at Duke. Stephens is shooting 15 for 20 from the field this season.
Star Power - Judson Wallace is averaging 18 points per game this season. No Princeton player has averaged as many points for an entire season since Brian Taylor scored 25 points per game 31 years ago.
A Judson Come Lately - Judson Wallace is averaging 19.3 points per game over his last 12 games dating back to Feb. 28 of last season. In his previous 42 games, Wallace averaged 5.5 points per game.
The Odd Games Out - Judson Wallace had scored in double figures in 13 consecutive games prior to scoring five points at Rutgers Dec. 13 and seven points at Duke Dec. 17.
It's Been a While - Judson Wallace is the first Princeton player to record three career games of 26 points or more since Kit Mueller '91. Mueller had seven 26-point games in his career.
Making History - Judson Wallace has at least 26 points three times in seven games this season; every other Princeton player combined has had at least 26 points in a game 15 times in the last 14 seasons.
Steppin' Out - Judson Wallace, who is 6-10, is shooting 24 for 54 from three-point range (44%) in his last 12 games dating back to last year.
From Way Downtown... - Ed Persia now ranks eighth all-time at Princeton with 122 three-pointers, passing Mike Bechtold's 120. He needs 18 three-pointers to pass C.J. Chapman '01 and move into seventh place on the all-time list.
Taking Care of It - Ed Persia has 29 assists and just 14 turnovers this season.
Iron Man - Ed Persia has played all 40 minutes twice this season and leads the Tigers in minutes played.
Not So Green Anymore - Scott Greenman has scored 58 points this season in seven games after scoring 54 points his entire freshman season.
Shooting Star - Scott Greenman is shooting 11 for 29 (38%) from three-point range this year. Greenman had 10 three-pointers his entire freshman season.
Mr. Versatility... - Will Venable is tied for the team lead in assists (29), is second on the team in rebounding (4.0 rpg) and steals (8) and is shooting 50% from the field (17 for 34) this season.
MORE FROM THE HARDWOOD
From Court to Field - Will Venable is the son of Max Venable, who played 12 seasons in the Major Leagues for the Giants, Expos and Reds. Venable also plays baseball at Princeton.
First Things First - Konrad Wysocki has scored 41 of his 52 points this season in the first half. He scored seven of Princeton's first 10 points at Rutgers Dec. 13.
Start Me Up - Konrad Wysocki has started all seven games this season. In his previous three seasons combined, he started eight games.
A 50-50 Proposition - Konrad Wysocki is shooting 172 for 325 from the field (52.9 percent) for his career.
Special K - Konrad Wysocki was the Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2000-01. Wysocki averaged 5.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game that season.
Back in Black (& Orange) - Andre Logan is 12 for 18 from the field in his last two games after starting 0 for 6 from the field in his first three games this year.
All about Andre - Andre Logan has played in just eight of Princeton's last 50 games over the past three seasons due to knee and hand injuries.
Filling It Up - Andre Logan was leading Princeton in scoring in 2001-02 (9.3 ppg) before tearing a knee ligament in an Ivy League game at Harvard on Jan. 11, 2002.
One More Year - Andre Logan is a junior in eligibility. Logan withdrew from school for the spring semester last year after playing in just three games early in the season. He also had a second knee surgery last year.
More From The Big Fella - Mike Stephens played a career-high 27 minutes against Duke. His four rebounds against the Blue Devils also tied a career high.
Dropping Dimes - Mike Stephens had 10 assists against Ursinus last year. He was the first Princeton player to record 10 assists in a game since Kit Mueller had 11 against Brown in 1991.
Jersey Guy - Max Schafer scored his first career points on a first-half three-pointer at Fresno State and had a season-best three steals at Duke. Schafer averaged 21 points, seven assists and three steals as a senior at De Paul Catholic High School and earned first-team all-New Jersey and all-area honors.
Rookie Report - Luke Owings has 21 of the 26 points scored by Princeton freshmen this season. He scored 11 points against Holy Cross, hitting three of his four three-point attempts.
Super Schaen - Harrison Schaen has come off the bench in Princeton's last five games. Schaen won California state titles in 2003 and 2001 at Mater Dei High School and was a four-time all-league selection.
Two-Way Player - Patrick Ekeruo (pronounced e-CARE-oh) played 15 minutes and had two rebounds against Colgate in his first collegiate game Nov. 21.
In the Buff - Edwin Buffmire was named the Maricopa County Player of the Year as as a high school senior after averaging 21 points, eight assists and seven rebounds per game.
The Reynolds Wrap - John Reynolds won a Journalism Award for Excellence in sportswriting from The Greenville News as a junior in high school.
The All-American Boy - Michael Rudoy earned honorable mention All-America honors from Street & Smith's Magazine as a senior in high school at the Latin School of Chicago.