Men's Basketball Advances to Championship Sunday at Ivy Madness

Saturday, March 11

Princeton, N.J.

1:30 PM

Princeton University

20-8,10-4Ivy League

No. 3 Seed Penn

17-13,9-5Ivy League

Penn

Princeton

Photo by: Sideline Photos, LLC

Men's Basketball Advances to Championship Sunday at Ivy Madness

March 11, 2023 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PRINCETON, N.J. – The No. 2 seed Princeton University men's basketball team advanced to the championship game of the Ivy League Tournament for the third time in program history Saturday afternoon inside Jadwin Gymnasium, upending the third-seeded University of Pennsylvania, 77-70.

The victory, in what was the second meeting between the two programs at Ivy Madness, marked the ninth-straight for the Tigers over the Quakers. In addition, Franklin C. Cappon-Edward C. Green '40 Head Coach Mitch Henderson improved his record against Penn to 18-4.

Tosan Evbuomwan led the Tigers with 21 points on 9-for-17 shooting, and had six rebounds along with four assists. He also improved his assist total to 301, and became the ninth player in program history to hand out at least 300 assists.

Ivy League Rookie of the Year Caden Pierce recorded his sixth double double of the season, scoring 14 points, pulling down 12 rebounds and handing out a career-high four assists. Junior Zach Martini finished with 12 points on 4-for-6 shooting from three, and senior Ryan Langborg also added 12 points. He now sits on 143 career made three-pointers, which ranks 14th all-time in program history. He moved up a spot, passing Richmond head coach Chris Mooney '94 on the Tigers' all-time list. In addition, senior Keeshawn Kellman tied his career-high in rebounds with 10 and scored seven points.

The contest began as a back-and-forth battle, with a short jumper by Evbuomwan tying the score, 9-9, with 14:22 on the clock. The Quakers would jump out to a 19-13 lead with 10:14 remain, but the Tigers battled back and made it a two-point contest, 22-20, after a three-pointer by Martini at 7:11.

A three-pointer by Pierce followed by a junior Matt Allocco layup saw Princeton take a 27-25 advantage with 4:51 on the clock, but Penn battled back to take a 29-27 lead with 4:27 remaining. Langborg sank a three-pointer that put the Tigers ahead 30-29 at 1:44, but the Quakers took a 31-30 lead into the half.

Princeton got off to a strong start in the second half, with a layup followed by a three-pointer by Langborg giving the Tigers a 37-34 advantage with 17:05 remaining. A pair of free throws by Evbuomwan extended the Tigers' lead to 45-39 with 14:35 on the clock, but the Quakers tied it up, 50-50, at 12:08.

Penn battled back, using a 9-0 run to get ahead, 61-58, with 7:45 remaining, but a pair of free throws by Langborg tied it up at 63-63 with 6:09 left to play. The Quakers jumped ahead with 4:21 remaining, 68-67, at 4:21, but Pierce gave Princeton the lead, 69-68, with 2:46 on the clock after he ran the floor and finished

The Tigers closed the game out with a 6-0 run, featuring an Evbuomwan layup and pairs of free throws by Pierce and freshman Xaivian Lee, holding on for the 77-70 victory.

13:01 1st | Penn 14, Princeton 11@keloading takes it up strong and finishes for two!#MakeShots ???? pic.twitter.com/CjulhfAg8S
— Princeton Men's Basketball (@PrincetonMBB) March 11, 2023

17:05 2nd | Princeton 37, Penn 34@Ryan_Langborg drills his 143rd career three-pointer, and moves up to No. 14 on the Tigers' all-time list!#MakeShots ???? pic.twitter.com/IdV1DHmv8B
— Princeton Men's Basketball (@PrincetonMBB) March 11, 2023

11:23 2nd | Princeton 55, Penn 52@xaivianlee, for three! #MakeShots ???? pic.twitter.com/1OSPK0wYQQ
— Princeton Men's Basketball (@PrincetonMBB) March 11, 2023

5:29 2nd | Princeton 69, Penn 68

AND ONE!@CadenPierce_3 rides the bump and finishes!#MakeShots ???? pic.twitter.com/kedcAQr8t9
— Princeton Men's Basketball (@PrincetonMBB) March 11, 2023

Up Next
The Tigers will play in the Ivy Madness Championship game at 12 p.m. tomorrow inside Jadwin Gymnasium tomorrow at 12 p.m. against No. 1 seed Yale.