.png&width=24&type=webp)
Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Harvard
Players Mentioned
Men's Hoops Defeats No. 25/21 Harvard, 70-62
February 12, 2012 | Men's Basketball
When that Harvard team is nationally ranked and undefeated in the Ivy League midway through the league schedule, that changes things.
Princeton rallied from being down as much as seven and by five at halftime in what was for most of the night a possession-by-possession game, defeating the Crimson 70-62 Saturday night in an ESPNU-televised contest.
Harvard entered the week ranked No. 21 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll and No. 25 in the Associated Press poll. It was the first time since Nov. 23, 1997, against No. 23 Wake Forest, that Princeton had defeated an AP-ranked team, and the first time since Jan. 3, 1977 against No. 2 Notre Dame that Princeton defeated an AP-ranked team in Jadwin Gym.
The teams' rivalry has intensified as each program built itself back from less-than-ideal seasons several years ago. In 2010, Harvard and Princeton both qualified for the postseason as Cornell's three-year-run finished out. Last season, Princeton took two of the three meetings with Harvard, the third necessitated by each having a 12-2 record at season's end. That sent Princeton to the NCAA Tournament and Harvard to the NIT.
Even with that history and the number in front of Harvard's name this week, Ian Hummer said the name on the front of those white jerseys tonight was all that mattered.
"We don't really pay attention to the ranking," Hummer said. "Harvard has always been a big opponent of ours and we want to come out and play them as hard as we can every time. It's just a great rivalry that's beginning and we're just happy to come home with a win against a very good Harvard team."
Hummer led Princeton (13-10, 4-3 Ivy) with 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists as the Tigers became the first Ivy League team to shoot 50 percent against the Crimson this season.
In doing so, Hummer reached 1,039 career points, becoming the highest scoring member of his family at Princeton. Ed Hummer '67 scored 786 points and uncle John Hummer '70 had 1,031 as each played three seasons in the era before freshman eligbility.
Ian Hummer was one of five Tigers in double figures, the first time Princeton has accomplished that feat this season. T.J. Bray (12), Brendan Connolly (11), Denton Koon (10) and Mack Darrow (10), along with Hummer, comprised 63 of the team's 70 points.
The big-scoring night from Hummer came one night after he went an uncharacteristic 0 for 11 from the field against Dartmouth, scratching out four points on free throws while still helping the team with eight rebounds and a couple blocked shots.
Harvard's (21-3, 7-1) Keith Wright led his team with a double-double on 16 points and 12 boards while Brandyn Curry added 15 points and Kyle Casey had 12.
Princeton saw itself trailing by as much as seven in the closing minutes of the first half before taking a five-point deficit into the locker room. Down five again at 33-28 with 16 minutes left, Princeton went on a 5-0 run to catch the Crimson, and a nip-and-tuck battle ensued.
Princeton pulled away for good after a 46-all tie, going on a 6-1 run to take a five point edge inside of four minutes to go.
The free throw attempts soon came in bunches for the Tigers as Harvard aimed to extend the game, and Princeton went 12 of 15 from the line over the last 2:30.
Mitch Henderson, the Franklin C. Cappon-Edward G. Green '40 head coach, praised a team that has more than held its own in key games, including wins over Florida State and Rutgers and a two-point loss at North Carolina State in the season's second game.
"The team that showed up in the last 12 minutes of this game is a group that's pretty tough to beat," Henderson said. "We've played like that at times all year."
Despite the loss, the Crimson remain in control of the Ivy League race at the halfway mark. Yale and Penn are now one game back in the loss column, and Cornell and Princeton are two games back. The only one of those teams that has yet to see Harvard on its home floor is Cornell, and the other three teams still have a visit to Cambridge on the schedule.
"In terms of league play, we've got work to do," Henderson said. "It's clear. I want to build on what happened tonight and take it into next weekend."
Princeton will return to Jadwin Gym and again be in front of the ESPNU cameras next Friday night against Columbia at 7 p.m.