Men’s Basketball Triumphs Over Lehigh in Final Game of Decade, 71-62

Sunday, December 29

Princeton, N.J.

4:00 PM

Princeton University

4-8

Lehigh

3-9

Lehigh

Princeton

Photo by: Beverly Schaefer

Men’s Basketball Triumphs Over Lehigh in Final Game of Decade, 71-62

December 29, 2019 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PRINCETON, N.J. – Playing in its final game of the decade Sunday afternoon, the Princeton University men's basketball team triumphed 71-62 over Lehigh University with help from a season-high 23 points by senior Richmond Aririguzoh inside Jadwin Gymnasium.

Winners of three out of their last four games, the Tigers were led by Aririguzoh who went 10-of-12 from the field on route to his season and game-high 23 points. He was one of four Tigers in double figures as junior Ryan Schwieger and sophomore Jaelin Llewellyn both finished with 12 points. Sophomore Drew Friberg added 11 points off the bench on 3-of-6 shooting from behind the three-point line along with a career-high five steals. Sophomore Ethan Wright led Princeton in rebounds with six and senior Jose Morales in assists with a game-high four.

Four early points from Aririguzoh gave the Tigers a 6-2 lead with 18:04 on the clock, but the Mountain Hawks fought back and took a 14-13 lead 13:51 left in the half. A three-pointer from the top of the key by Llewellyn with 13:27 remaining in the half sparked a 9-0 run that also featured a three-pointer by Friberg and a layup by Schweiger gave Princeton a 21-14 advantage with 12:31 on the clock.

The Tigers would lead 21-15 with 11:44 left in the half then a Friberg three-pointer with 11:27 on the clock led off an 8-0 run that also saw Friberg drain another three-pointer and junior Elijah Barnes convert on a layup that gave the Tigers a lead of 29-15 with 9:10 remaining in the half. While the Mountain Hawks were able to narrow their deficit prior to halftime, Princeton would lead 39-30 going into halftime.

3:15 1st | Princeton 38, Lehigh 27@TheRichEffect finishes through the foul for the three-point play!#MakeShots ???? pic.twitter.com/uYQ5o02V2T
— Princeton Basketball (@PrincetonMBB) December 29, 2019

Princeton would extend its lead to 12 points, 44-32, with 17:09 remaining after an Aririguzoh layup, but Lehigh got hot and challenged the Tigers down the stretch.

With 8:40 on the clock, Princeton led 59-49 but an 8-0 Lehigh run made it a two-point game at 59-57 with 5:37 left to play. Princeton responded with a 10-0 run after Schwieger threw down a two-handed dunk with 4:43 on the clock then drained a three-pointer from the right corner and earned a four-point play with 3:35 left to play, making it a 65-57 contest. Aririguzoh and Schwieger would each make a pair of throws to complete the 10-0 Tiger run that gave Princeton a 69-59 advantage with 49 seconds remaining.

3:35 2nd | Princeton 64, Lehigh 57

A foul can't stop @ryanschwieger who drains the three-pointer from the corner!#MakeShots ???? pic.twitter.com/AdIjqZIOew
— Princeton Basketball (@PrincetonMBB) December 29, 2019

Friberg would knock down a pair of free throws with 36 seconds on the clock and Princeton would hold on for the 71-62 victory.

Up Next
The Tigers will open Ivy League play against the University of Pennsylvania (6-4) inside the Palestra on Saturday, January 4 at 7 p.m.