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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Yale
Greenman Explodes for 27, Leads Tigers to 66-49 Win over Yale
February 03, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 3, 2006
Box Score
Thanks to an early-season back injury and a season-long shooting slump, the first half of Scott Greenman's senior year hadn't gone exactly as planned. But Friday night at Jadwin Gym, the biggest game of his Princeton career was a big reason for a big Princeton win.
Greenman scored 18 of his career-best 27 points in the first half, making all seven of his field-goal attempts in that half, and then hit a big three-pointer to put Princeton ahead by 10 with five minutes left to lead the Tigers to a 66-49 win over Yale.
The win, Princeton's 13th straight over the Bulldogs (11-9, 3-2 Ivy) at Jadwin Gym, improved the Tigers (4-12) to 2-1 in the Ivy League heading into a Saturday night game with Brown. The big game from Greenman consisted of an 8-for-11 shooting performance from the field, including 5-of-7 from three-point range, to go along with five assists, four rebounds and three steals.
"I never really lost confidence this season," said Greenman, a 38% career shooter from three-point range entering the season who entered the game shooting just 23% from behind the arc this season. "I think our offense is running better and I'm getting better shots, and that's why they went in tonight."
"I am glad Scotty made open shots, but I'm even happier to see him diving on the floor and doing the other things," said Princeton head coach Joe Scott. "That kind of play leads to everyone that's out there doing the same thing."
Despite Greenman's first-half heroics, Princeton still found itself down 40-37 with 10 minutes left after Sam Kaplan's jumper in the lane. But reserve center Michael Strittmatter then hit two huge shots from three-point range, the first to tie the game at 40 and the second to give Princeton a 43-40 lead with nine minutes left, and Princeton never trailed from there. Yale would cut its deficit to 48-44 with just under seven minutes left before two more Princeton three-pointers extended the lead again. The first came from Kyle Koncz and gave the Tigers a 51-44 lead, and the second was Greenman's fifth of the night and put Princeton ahead 54-44.
Princeton made 10 of its 20 three-point shots for the game and finished 18 for 20 from the free-throw line. The Tigers had assists on 16 of their 19 baskets and outrebounded Yale 28-23.
Dominick Martin led Yale with 10 points and seven rebounds. The Bulldogs, who haven't won in Princeton since 1993, had just three field goals in the final 10 minutes of the game after using a 19-10 run to begin the second half to take a three-point lead.
Luke Owings added 10 points for Princeton, which shot 53% from the field in the decisive second half.
NOTES * Junior Justin Conway started his second straight game and played 30 minutes, but was forced to leave the game for several minutes in the second half after sustaining a cut above his eye. Conway returned to the game wearing #43 as opposed to his usual #33, which was covered with blood.
* Princeton has defeated Yale 13 years in a row at Jadwin Gym. 11 of those 13 wins have come by double-digit margins.
* Greenman has now made eight of 12 three-point attempts in Princeton's last two games after making six of his first 35 three-point attempts this season.
* Greenman's previous career high was 17 points, set against Columbia last season.