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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Harvard
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Greenman's Big Shot Propels Men's Basketball to 60-51 Win at Harvard
March 05, 2004 | Men's Basketball
March 5, 2004
Box Score
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Scott Greenman is Princeton's best three-point shooter, but the sophomore guard wasn't having one of his best shooting nights at Harvard Lavietes Pavilion on Friday. Of course, that was only until it mattered most.
Greenman's right-corner three-point shot with 1:24 left and the shot clock down to three broke a 51-51 tie and ignited a 9-0 Princeton run that ended the game, helping the Tigers clinch at least a share of their 25th Ivy League title with a 60-51 win over the Crimson before a crowd of 2,050 filled with Princeton fans.
Princeton can clinch the outright Ivy League title and the league's NCAA tournament berth with a win at last-place Dartmouth Saturday night. The Tigers defeated Dartmouth 61-45 at Jadwin Gym earlier this season. "We had a play set up in the timeout (with 16 seconds on the shot clock) where we were looking for that drive," Greenman said. "Andre (Logan) got by his man and made a great pass and I was able to hit the shot."
The Tigers (18-7, 11-1) trailed 50-47 with just under four minutes remaining but scored 13 of the final 14 points of the game to earn their 10th straight win over the Crimson (4-22, 3-10). Logan pulled Princeton within 50-49 on a layup with 3:20 left and then put Princeton ahead 51-50 with 2:27 left with two free throws. David Giovacchini then made one of two free throws for Harvard with 1:54 left to tie the game at 51, but Harvard never scored again.
"Our guys have been focused and able to win games like this all season," said Princeton head coach John Thompson, who has now led the Tigers to three Ivy titles in four years as coach. "We showed a lot of character in turning the game around late in the second half."
Harvard had just one field goal in the final 5:53, a Kevin Rogus three that put Harvard ahead 49-47. Rogus had five three-pointers for the Crimson, including four in the second half as Harvard rallied to take the lead.
Princeton scored the game's first 10 points and looked like it might have been on its way to a rout, but the Crimson scored eight of the final 10 points of the first half to cut their deficit to 26-20 at halftime. Harvard then made nine of its first 10 shots of the second half, including three "threes" from Rogus, to take their first lead at 40-38 with 13:25 to go.
Judson Wallace scored a game-high 16 points for Princeton, 12 of which came in the second half as the Tigers staved off Harvard's hot shooting in the end. Greenman, who had set a career high with 16 points against the Crimson Feb. 7, scored 14 points and had a career-high five rebounds, while Will Venable had 12 points and six rebounds in 39 minutes despite a sore back that had limited him during the week.
Rogus was Harvard's only player in double figures, scoring 15 points. The Crimson shot just 30% for the game (16 for 54) and 13 for 24 from the free-throw line, including seven of 15 from the line in the second half.
Wallace also had a game-high 12 rebounds, two off his career high. Harrison Schaen played 17 minutes off the bench had eight points and three blocks, while Andre Logan also had eight points and three assists, including the assists on Greenman's go-ahead basket.
Princeton is now 11-1 in league play, while Penn improved to 9-3 with a win at Dartmouth and Brown (9-4) is now eliminated after losing at Columbia Friday night. The Tigers can make the outcome on Tuesday's game at the Palestra against the Quakers moot with a win over the Big Green Saturday night.