Men's Basketball Falls Just Short at Navy, 74-73

Friday, November 11

Annapolis, Md.

8:30 PM

Princeton University

0-2,0-0Ivy League

Navy

2-0,0-0Patriot

Princeton

Navy

Photo by: Beverly Schaefer

November 12, 2022 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Princeton University men's basketball team reduced a 23-point deficit to a single point Friday night inside Alumni Hall, but its comeback attempt came up just short against Navy at the Veterans Classic as the Tigers fell, 74-73.

Senior Keeshawn Kellman led the way with his second-straight game of at least 20 points, tying the game-high with 20 on 9-for-13 shooting. Junior Matt Allocco had a career-night, scoring 19 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field, and 4-for-7 shooting from three, along with tying the team-high in rebounds with senior Tosan Evbuomwan with nine. Allocco's point total, made field goals, made three-pointers and rebounds were all career-highs.

Kellman opened the game with a powerful two-handed slam at 19:07, then a layup followed by a long three-pointer by Allocco saw Princeton take a 9-2 lead with 17:07 on the clock. The Midshipmen responded with an 8-0 run, tying the score at 9-9 with 14:46 left in the half.

A 7-0 run Navy saw the Midshipmen take a 14-11 advantage at 13:28, then an 8-0 run by Navy saw it take a 21-12 lead with 9:07 on the clock. From there, the Midshipmen stayed in control for the remainder of the half, taking a 46-26 lead into halftime.

Allocco opened the second half, three-point play with 19:46 on the clock, igniting an 8-0 run that made it a 46-34 contest at 17:51 following a Kellman layup. Evbuomwan then made it a 10-point game, dropping in a short jumper with 15:57 left to play, and ignited an 8-0 run which narrowed the deficit to four at 50-46, with 13:33 on the clock.

Navy responded by extending its lead back out to 14, 64-50, with 7:03 left to play but a layup by Kellman sparked an 8-0 run, trimming the lead to six, 64-58, after a freshman Caden Pierce three-pointer at 5:40.

The Tigers continued to apply pressure, as Kellman sank a free throw with 4:35 on the clock, and led off a 7-0 run that made it a two-point game at 66-64 with 2:23 left to play. The Midshipmen were able to extend their lead out back out to six, but a long three-pointer by Allocco from the top of the circle at 00:51 made it a 73-70 contest.

It's a one-point game after that @PrincetonMBB three ?? pic.twitter.com/hqx3kNzCoZ
— CBS Sports CBB (@CBSSportsCBB) November 12, 2022

With 0:26 remaining, Navy went 1-for-2 from three free throw line, then with 0:03 on the clock Allocco sank a long three-pointer from the top of the circle, making it a 74-73 contest. The Midshipmen would then miss a pair of free throws, and with time expiring Allocco put up a shot from well beyond the three-point arc that was off by only a few inches. Navy ultimately held on for the win, 74-73.

Up Next
The Tigers face the University of Maryland Baltimore County (1-1) on Monday, November 14, at 6:00 p.m. inside Chesapeake Energy Arena.