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Princeton University Athletics
Men's Basketball Looks to Clinch NCAA Berth with Win at Dartmouth
March 06, 2004 | Men's Basketball
March 6, 2004
The Princeton men's basketball team is one step away from an outright Ivy League title, a step that can be taken with a win over Dartmouth tonight at Leede Arena (7 p.m., YES Network, goprincetontigers.com).
A win would ensure Princeton's 23rd NCAA tournament berth and its ninth in the last 16 seasons and render the outcome of the season finale at Penn Tuesday moot. A loss, coupled with a Penn win at Harvard, would give Penn a chance to force a one-game playoff for the league's NCAA berth with a win over the Tigers Tuesday.
Princeton (18-7, 11-1 Ivy) is in first place in the Ivy League by two games over Penn, while Dartmouth (3-24, 1-12 Ivy) has lost 17 straight games heading into Dave Faucher's final game as Big Green head coach tonight. The Tigers defeated Dartmouth 61-45 at Jadwin Gym Feb. 6, taking a 33-8 lead in the first half.
The Tigers scored the final nine points of the game and 13 of the final 14 points to earn a 60-51 win at Harvard Friday night. Scott Greenman, who scored 14 points, hit a three-point shot with 1:24 to go and three seconds on the shot clock to put the Tigers ahead for good. Judson Wallace had 16 points and 12 rebounds for Princeton, which defeated Harvard for the 10th straight time. TODAY'S NOTE OF THE DAY
One Step Away -- The Tigers can clinch the outright Ivy League title and the league's automatic NCAA tournament berth with a win at Dartmouth Saturday night.
10 MORE THINGS YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT
Shared Joy -- Princeton clinched at least a share of the Ivy League title with a win at Harvard Friday. The Tigers have now won 25 Ivy titles in 49 years of formal league competition.
Playoff Possibilities? -- Princeton and Penn are the only teams remaining with a chance at the league's NCAA tournament berth. Penn would need to win at Harvard and against the Tigers, while Princeton would need to lose tonight and at Penn to force a one-game playoff next Saturday.
NCAA Facts -- Princeton has reached the NCAA tournament 22 times, including eight times in the last 15 years and 11 times in the past 23 years.
The Clincher -- Princeton has not clinched the outright Ivy League title prior to its season-ending meeting with Penn since the 1997-98 season.
Not Green with Envy -- Princeton has a 27-2 record against Dartmouth in the last 15 seasons. Both losses (1995, 2001) came at Leede Arena.
Lucky Sevens -- Princeton has won a season-high seven straight games. The Tigers are 14-3 since falling to Lafayette to fall to 4-4 Dec. 22.
On the Defensive -- Princeton has held its opponent to 52 points or fewer in seven of 12 Ivy League games. The Tigers rank second nationally in scoring defense (55.8 ppg allowed).
Hoping for the Same -- Princeton led Dartmouth 33-8 in the first half and 39-15 at halftime when the teams met at Jadwin Gym Feb. 6.
Injury Report -- Ed Persia has missed Princeton's last three games due to a deep thigh contusion and will not play Saturday against Harvard.
Balancing Act -- In its last 11 games, six different Princeton players have led the team in scoring in at least one game (Andre Logan, Judson Wallace, Scott Greenman, Will Venable, Mike Stephens, Ed Persia).
MORE NOTES & ANECDOTES
About Last Night -- Princeton won at Harvard 60-51 Friday, scoring the game's last nine points. Scott Greenman's three-pointer with 1:24 left put the Tigers ahead for good at 54-51.
Good Combination -- Princeton ranks second in the country in scoring defense (55.8 ppg) and 10th in the country in team field-goal percentage (48.6%).
Three Outta Four Ain't Bad -- Princeton has now won three Ivy League titles in four seasons under head coach John Thompson. The Tigers won the outright Ivy League title in 2001 and shared the title with Penn and Yale in 2002.
60-60 Proposition -- Princeton is now 15-0 this season when scoring 60 or more points and 13-7 when scoring 59 points or fewer.
By the Numbers -- Princeton has now won 10 or more Ivy League games in 11 straight seasons.
More Numbers -- Princeton has at least a .500 record in conference play in 51 consecutive seasons, a streak more than twice as long as any other team in NCAA Division I.
Double Trouble -- Princeton is now 14-1 when three or more players score in double figures and 4-6 when two or fewer players score 10 or more points.
Block Party -- Princeton has 15 blocked shots in last three games. Freshman Harrison Schaen had three blocks in just 17 minutes last night.
Center of Attention -- Judson Wallace is averaging 20.7 points and 8.3 rebounds during Princeton's seven-game winning streak. Wallace had 16 points and 12 rebounds at Harvard Friday night.
Guard of Attention -- Scott Greenman tied a career high with five rebounds against Harvard in addition to scoring 14 points.
Back on Track -- Will Venable scored 12 points and had six rebounds in 39 minutes last night despite a back injury that limited his practice time this past week.