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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Brown
Ruscoe, Forte Lead Brown to 57-52 Win over Tigers at Jadwin Gym
January 28, 2005 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 28, 2005
Box Score
Luke Ruscoe shot 7 for 8 from the field and scored 16 points, including six key points late in the second half that helped fend off a Princeton rally, as Brown stunned Princeton at Jadwin Gym, 57-52, in the men's basketball Ivy League opener for each team Friday night.
Brown (8-7, 1-0 Ivy), which won for just the second time in 55 games against the Tigers in Princeton, led by seven points with 7:16 left, but the Tigers (9-6, 0-1 Ivy) would cut that lead to two a minute later, 48-46, when Judson Wallace scored inside.
But then Ruscoe took over for Brown after a Princeton turnover, scoring on a drive and converting a three-point play to put the Bears back ahead by five. Then, late in the shot clock on Brown's next possession, Ruscoe hit an off-balance three-pointer from the right wing to put his team ahead 54-46. Princeton would cut the Brown lead to four points twice after that, including at 56-52 when Andre Logan hit a three-pointer with 47 seconds left, but the Tigers wouldn't score again after that. Logan and Luke Owings missed three-pointers in the final 30 seconds that would have cut the Brown lead to two.
"You have to give Brown credit," said Princeton head coach Joe Scott. "They have some confidence in this building after winning here two years ago and playing well here last year, and they shot the ball well the entire game and made plays."
Brown shot 22 for 37 (59.5%) from the field for the game against a Princeton team that came into the game ranked in the top 10 nationally in field-goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot less than 38% from the field. The Bears hit 5 of 7 three-point shots in the first half, 6 of 12 for the game and shot 11 for 18 (61%) in the decisive second half, including 10 for 13 on two-point shots.
Despite Brown's hot shooting in the first half, Princeton still led 30-28 at halftime thanks to a late 9-0- first-half run. Logan's three-point shot with 2:47 left got the Tigers started on that run, and consecutive Wallace layups tied the score with 55 seconds left. Princeton then took a halftime lead when Scott Greenman stole a pass from Jason Forte and found a streaking Will Venable for a layup.
Forte led the Bears with 17 points and six rebounds, shooting 3 for 6 from three-point range. Ruscoe added two assists and three steals while playing all 40 minutes for Brown, whose only other win in Princeton came two seasons ago.
Venable and Noah Savage each scored 10 points for Princeton, which lost its Ivy League opener for the first time since the 1995-96 season. It was the Tigers first loss in their Ivy opener at home to a team other than Penn since a loss to Harvard 20 seasons ago. All of Savage's points came in the first half.
The Tigers lost when leading at halftime for the first time this season.