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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Davidson
Tigers Outlast Davidson in Double-Overtime Thriller, 70-68
January 02, 2005 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 2, 2005
Box Score
Princeton didn't really find its offense Sunday against Davidson until late in the first overtime. But a stellar defensive effort, not to mention five huge plays in the extra periods, was enough to propel the Tigers to a big win over the Wildcats in a Jadwin Gym thriller.
Andre Logan intercepted Kenny Grant's pass at the end of the second overtime and time finally ran out on a 70-68 Tiger victory, but it was the end of the first overtime and the beginning of the second that won the game for Princeton.
The Tigers (8-4), who thought they might have won the game on Scott Greenman's long three-point attempt the regulation buzzer, instead had to settle for overtime when that rainbow was ruled to have come after the buzzer. Quickly, Davidson (5-7) took a 56-51 overtime lead. But Greenman's step-back three-point shot with 1:36 on the clock pulled Princeton within two, and Judson Wallace then drove the lane and scored with 56 seconds left to tie the game.
Princeton then took control by scoring the first five points of the second overtime, the first two coming on a Noah Savage layup on its first possession and the next three on a Luke Owings' bomb from the left wing. Wallace then hit his only three-pointer of the game on Princeton's next possession, and the Tigers regained a six-point lead.
Greenman made one of two free throws for Princeton with 5.1 seconds on the clock, giving Davidson a chance to tie or win the game on its final possession, but a double-teamed Grant's pass to the top of the key was intercepted by Logan and time expired.
"I thought this was our best all-around effort this season," said Princeton head coach Joe Scott. "We held them to three three-pointers and 49 points in regulation, and we got open shots on offense. In the overtime, we were able to make some of those shots."
Princeton made just 7 of 22 three-point shots in regulation but connected on three of its six three-point attempts in the final 10 minutes. Davidson entered the game averaging nearly nine three-pointers per game but made just three of 14 attempts (21%).
"We didn't let ourselves get tired or lose any effort defensively," said Princeton guard Will Venable, who had 15 points, five rebounds and three steals before fouling out in the first overtime. "I think we could have gotten down being behind five in the overtime, but we made big plays on both ends of the floor."
Judson Wallace, who had just three points at halftime, led Princeton with 22 points and tied a career-high with 14 rebounds. Wallace scored seven of Princeton's 14 points in the second overtime, including two free throws with 11 seconds left that gave the Tigers a 69-66 lead. The senior center finished 15 for 17 from the line overall.
Grant led Davidson with 19 points, shooting a perfect 11 for 11 from the line, while Brendan Winters had 12 points and six rebounds. The Wildcats made eight of 15 shots in the second half (53%) but were just 4-for-12 in overtime.
The biggest lead either team had in regulation was six points, a 36-30 Davidson lead after two Winters free throws with 11:04 left in the second half. Greenman and Owings quickly erased that deficit with three-point shots, and Princeton led 49-46 after two Wallace free throws with 15 seconds left. But Grant then made the play of the game for Davidson, driving the length of the floor, scoring and drawing a foul on Venable with 10 seconds left, and his three-point play tied the game at 49.
Greenman's 28-foot shot hit nothing but net at the end of regulation, but the shot came after the buzzer. The ball was in the junior guard's hands again at the end of the first overtime, but his short jumper was off the mark and Davidson's Winters grabbed the rebound.
The game was the second double-overtime game at Jadwin Gym in the last 11 months. Princeton defeated Harvard in double overtime in February. Prior to that game, there had never been a multiple-overtime game in the 35-year history of Jadwin Gym.
Logan Kosmalski had a team-high 11 rebounds for Davidson, which outrebounded Princeton 39-24 but committed 18 turnovers.