Despite Late Run, Men’s Basketball Falls to Lafayette in Home Opener

Wednesday, November 13

Princeton, N.J.

7:00 PM

Princeton University

0-3

Lafayette

2-1

Lafayette

Princeton

Photo by: Beverly Schaefer

Despite Late Run, Men’s Basketball Falls to Lafayette in Home Opener

November 13, 2019 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Princeton, N.J. – Despite an 11-0 run late in the second half, the Princeton University men's basketball suffered a 72-65 setback in its home opener against Lafayette College Wednesday night inside Jadwin Gymnasium.

Senior Richmond Aririguzoh went 8-of-14 from the field on route to a team-high 19 points. Along with his game-high nine rebounds, he also added two steals one blocked shot. Sophomore Drew Friberg scored 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including a 4-of-8 effort from behind the three-point line. Sophomore Jaelin Llewellyn added 13 points and senior Jose Morales had eight points, four rebounds and two steals off the bench.

It did not take long for Aririguzoh to stamp his authority on the game as he dominated the paint early and scored the Tigers' first six points inside the first five minutes. Friberg was also hot early, knocking down his first three-pointer with 14:25 on the clock to give Princeton a 9-7 lead with 14:25 on the clock. He would make three-pointers with 11:06 and 10:11 left in the half, but Princeton would trail Lafayette 21-20. The Leopards would take control of the game in the late stages of the opening half and take a 45-31 advantage into halftime.

19:38 1st | Princeton 2, Lafayette 0@TheRichEffect with the nice footwork on the first basket of the game!#MakeShots ???? pic.twitter.com/fZzquUcWIt
— Princeton Basketball (@PrincetonMBB) November 14, 2019

Friberg's accurate shooting continued into the second half as he connected on his first three-point attempt at 17:56, but the Leopards still held a 50-34 advantage. A steal and a layup by Morales with 17:22 on the clock followed by another Aririguzoh layup with 16:41 remaining cut Lafayette's lead to 11.

The Tigers continued to chip away at Lafayette's advantage as a layup by Friberg with 8:13 on the clock cut it to single figures, making it a 59-50 contest. A pair of free throws by Morales with 2:44 left to play led off a 11-0 run, with seven of the points coming from Llewellyn, that made it a 69-65 game, cutting the Leopards lead to just four.

Despite Princeton's late run, Lafayette would make three late free throws and hold on for the 72-65 win.

Up Next
The Tigers will take on the Indiana University Bloomington (3-0) inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Wednesday, November 20 at 7 p.m.