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Princeton University Athletics
Mason Rocca '00 Faces Knicks on NBA TV
October 03, 2010 | Men's Basketball
In a game televised back to the U.S. by both the MSG network and NBA TV, Princeton basketball alumnus Mason Rocca '00 faced the New York Knicks with his Armani Jeans Milano teammates in an NBA exhibition game Sunday, Oct. 3 in Milan, Italy.
The Knicks prevailed 125-113 with Rocca scoring nine points in 20 minutes. Milano outscored the Knicks by 15 points in the time that Rocca was on the floor.
Rocca, who was a teammate of Princeton head coach Sydney Johnson '97 during his collegiate career, has been playing in Europe since 2001 and for Milano since 2008. During their one season as teammates, Rocca and Johnson helped the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament before Rocca went on to play in the postseason three more times including another NCAA Tournament in 1998 and two NITs in 1999 and 2000.
In the game, Rocca lined up against another player with a Sydney Johnson connection as Patrick Ewing Jr., who rejoined the Knicks in August, spent two seasons with Johnson as his assistant coach at Georgetown under another Princeton alumnus, John Thompson III '88, as head coach.