Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Monmouth
Monmouth Wins at Princeton in Men's Basketball, 41-21
December 14, 2005 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 14, 2005
Box Score
Both injury-plagued and suspension-riddled Monmouth and a Princeton team starting an inexperienced lineup for the second straight game probably knew they were in for a low-scoring affair Wednesday night at Jadwin Gym. Unfortunately for the Tigers, the final numbers after 40 minutes proved to be historic in the wrong kind of way.
Monmouth took control of an eventual 41-21 victory over the Tigers with a 16-0 second-half run, but the real story lay in those 21 points scored by Princeton, tying the fewest by a team in NCAA Division I since the three-point shot came into the college game in 1986.
In scoring their fewest points in a game since a March 14, 1936 loss to Penn, the Tigers (2-5) shot just 9-for-41 for the game and made just 2 of 20 three-point shots. Princeton went scoreless for nearly 15 minutes in the second half, finally ending the drought when Kyle Koncz scored on a follow jumper with 2:39 left. By that time, the score was 37-18 Monmouth.
Princeton and Monmouth (2-7) also scored the fewest combined points in Division I by two teams since the three-point line came into play in 1986 (62), five points fewer than the combined 67 scored by SMU and Texas Arlington in 1989 and Wisconsin-Green Bay and Northern Michigan in 1996.
"Their zone was good and we obviously did not do a good job at all of playing against it," said Princeton head coach Joe Scott. "Still, we were really in the game for a long time because of our defense, but then they were able to score on three straight possessions."
Dejan Delic and had 11 points and Chris Kenny 10 for Monmouth, whose 16-0 second-half run took 14:52 to fashion. Princeton missed 13 consecutive shots from the floor in that span and had six turnovers in the stretch. "They did a good job of pressuring the wings and making it difficult for us," said Princeton center Patrick Ekeruo, who had a team-high nine points. "It gets frustrating when nothing is going in, but we just have to work hard in practice to make it better."
Monmouth led 21-11 at halftime thanks to a 9-2 run to end the half. The Tigers had just one field goal in the final 6:53 of the half,an Ekeruo hook with 2:38 left, and Kenny's jumper with 1:30 left gave Monmouth its first double-digit lead.
The Hawks broke a six-game losing streak overall a four-game losing streak against Princeton. Monmouth made 6 of its 12 three-point attempts and had 12 assists on its 16 baskets.
Princeton's leading scorer, sophomore Noah Savage, did not score in 26 minutes. He was forced to the bench early in the first half after picking up two quick fouls.
The Tigers play at 16th-ranked Wake Forest Saturday afternoon (4 p.m.). The game will be televised live by ESPN2.