Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Columbia
Tigers Grind Out Overtime Win Over Columbia, 68-64
January 13, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 13, 2006
Box Score
Sometimes you win, and sometimes you find a way to win. Princeton did both of those things Friday night against Columbia, taking advantage of both their own clutch play and a little good fortune provided by the Lions.
Four free throws in the final 11 seconds of overtime finally gave the Tigers a 68-64 victory over the Lions at Jadwin Gym, but that doesn't tell the whole story. Because the most important Princeton free throws were shot a few minutes earlier, and two of the four free throws in the final seconds of overtime probably never should have happened.
Edwin Buffmire's two clutch foul shots came with 0.8 seconds left in regulation, tying the game at 54 and concluding a wild final 15 seconds of the second half. Scott Greenman's two free throws with 11 seconds left in overtime gave the Tigers a 66-62 lead, but he wasn't fouled before getting to the line. Inbounding the ball under his own basket down 64-62, Columbia's Dalen Cuff called a timeout when his team didn't have one, sending Greenman to the line for two technical foul shots.
Kyle Koncz's free throws with eight seconds left cemented the 68-64 final, a final that had a lot to do with free throws in general.
Princeton (3-10, 1-0 Ivy), which broke a six-game losing streak and won its ninth straight game against Columbia, sent the game to overtime despite not making a field goal in the final 10:52 of the second half. Instead, the Tigers made 14 of 16 free throw attempts in the final seven minutes, tying the game twice in the final seconds. Michael Strittmatter made two free throws to tie the game at 52 with 15 seconds left, but Columbia (7-7, 0-1 Ivy) went back ahead seven seconds later when Ben Nwachukwu scored inside. Buffmire then passed up a three-point shot and drove the lane, getting fouled by Mack Montgomery before making the two free throws in the final second.
"Coach just said 'make the free throws'," said Buffmire, who had 12 points, two assists and two blocks. "It was that simple."
"They play aggressively defensively and we took advantage by getting the foul line in the second half," said Princeton coach Joe Scott.
Princeton made 25 of 31 free throw attempts in the second half and overtime and finished 26 for 34 from the line for the game.
The Tigers never trailed in overtime, getting a big lift from Alex Okafor early in the period. Okafor blocked K.J. Matsui's three-point attempt, then scored on the other end while being fouled by Matsui. The ensuing free throw gave the Tigers a 57-54 lead.
Columbia looked like it might have a great chance to tie it or win it in the final seconds after regaining possession of the ball under their own basket after Dragutin Kravic's missed free throw. But Cuff could not get the ball inbounds and called the timeout that the Lions did not have.
Kyle Koncz led Princeton with 15 points, nine of which came in the first half. Greenman had 12 points and three assists, and both he and Buffmire played all 45 minutes.
John Baumann led Columbia with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Matsui had 16 and Nwachukwu 10.
The Tigers trailed by as many as seven points in the first half and 26-24 at halftime but started the second half on fire from the field. Treys from Koncz and Buffmire and another layup from Buffmire gave Princeton a 33-28 lead with 16:35 left.
Greenman drove the lane with 10:52 left to give Princeton a 40-38 lead, and the Tigers wouldn't get a field goal again until overtime.