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Saturday, March 16
New York, N.Y.
11:00 AM
Princeton University
24-4,12-2Ivy League
81
vs
90
Brown
13-17,8-6Ivy League
1
2
F
Brown
44
46
90
Princeton
31
50
81
Dalen Davis had 21 second half points against Brown.
Princeton Falls To Brown In Ivy Tournament Despite Extraordinary Performance From Dalen Davis
March 16, 2024 | Men's Basketball
The Princeton men's basketball team needed a miracle, and freshman guard Dalen Davis almost came up with one. Almost. And at this time of year, that's the harshest word there is.
Davis was extraordinary in the second half of Princeton's Ivy League tournament semifinal game against Brown, and he and a vicious Princeton pressure defense were almost enough to overcome a 22-point second half deficit. Almost. There's that word again.
In the end, the final was Brown 90, Princeton 81. The win marked the first time in Ivy League tournament history that the No. 4 seed defeated the No. 1 seed.
Princeton, who went 12-2 to win the outright league championship, was looking for a second-straight Ivy tournament championship, after last year's win preceded a run to the Sweet 16. This time, the Tigers enter Selection Sunday at 24-4 overall.
The Bears that left Jadwin Gym a month ago with a record of 6-17 and the Bears that showed up at Columbia's Levien Gym for the tournament are not the same animals. They were wounded Bears on the night of Feb. 16 a loss at Princeton. One month to the day later? That was a different story.
It's been a stunning turnaround by Brown, who lost to Princeton exactly one month ago but who has not lost since. Brown had beaten each league team besides Princeton during its 6-0 sprint to get into the league tournament in the first place and then added Princeton to that run to reach the final for the first time.
Brown took the lead at 21-19 midway through the first half and built it to 44-31 at the break. With 17 minutes to go, it was 55-33. That's when Davis exploded.
With 17 minutes to go, it was 55-33. With 45 seconds to go, it was 84-81. Davis, whose previous career high of 16 was against Columbia also on the Levien Gym floor, was unstoppable, scoring all 21 of his points after the break. He routinely got the basket for layups and, along with a relentless Princeton press, the lead began to shrink. And shrink. And shrink some more.
In the end, though, the hole was just too big. Brown made enough foul shots down the stretch, and it was the Bears who advanced to Sunday's championship game.
Brown shot a blistering 55 percent in the first half was actually better in the second, at nearly 58 percent. Princeton made four of its first seven threes but was then just 5 for 28 the rest of the way.
Matt Allocco had 20 points for the Tigers, and Ivy Player of the Year Caden Pierce had 19 points and 12 rebounds. Brown's Kino Lilly Jr. led everyone with 27.
Davis was extraordinary in the second half of Princeton's Ivy League tournament semifinal game against Brown, and he and a vicious Princeton pressure defense were almost enough to overcome a 22-point second half deficit. Almost. There's that word again.
In the end, the final was Brown 90, Princeton 81. The win marked the first time in Ivy League tournament history that the No. 4 seed defeated the No. 1 seed.
Princeton, who went 12-2 to win the outright league championship, was looking for a second-straight Ivy tournament championship, after last year's win preceded a run to the Sweet 16. This time, the Tigers enter Selection Sunday at 24-4 overall.
The Bears that left Jadwin Gym a month ago with a record of 6-17 and the Bears that showed up at Columbia's Levien Gym for the tournament are not the same animals. They were wounded Bears on the night of Feb. 16 a loss at Princeton. One month to the day later? That was a different story.
It's been a stunning turnaround by Brown, who lost to Princeton exactly one month ago but who has not lost since. Brown had beaten each league team besides Princeton during its 6-0 sprint to get into the league tournament in the first place and then added Princeton to that run to reach the final for the first time.
Brown took the lead at 21-19 midway through the first half and built it to 44-31 at the break. With 17 minutes to go, it was 55-33. That's when Davis exploded.
With 17 minutes to go, it was 55-33. With 45 seconds to go, it was 84-81. Davis, whose previous career high of 16 was against Columbia also on the Levien Gym floor, was unstoppable, scoring all 21 of his points after the break. He routinely got the basket for layups and, along with a relentless Princeton press, the lead began to shrink. And shrink. And shrink some more.
In the end, though, the hole was just too big. Brown made enough foul shots down the stretch, and it was the Bears who advanced to Sunday's championship game.
Brown shot a blistering 55 percent in the first half was actually better in the second, at nearly 58 percent. Princeton made four of its first seven threes but was then just 5 for 28 the rest of the way.
Matt Allocco had 20 points for the Tigers, and Ivy Player of the Year Caden Pierce had 19 points and 12 rebounds. Brown's Kino Lilly Jr. led everyone with 27.
Team Stats
BRN
PU
FG%
.559
.411
3FG%
.364
.257
FT%
.727
.706
RB
41
32
TO
18
11
STL
9
13
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
1
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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