Men's Basketball Comes Back From 10 Down To Complete Season Sweep Of Columbia

Friday, February 28

New York, N.Y.

7:00 PM

Princeton University

Columbia

Men's Basketball Comes Back From 10 Down To Complete Season Sweep Of Columbia

February 28, 2025 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PRINCETON, N.J. – The Princeton University men's basketball team rallied back from a 10-point deficit to complete the season sweep of Columbia inside Levien Gymnasium Friday night, 73-68.

Franklin C. Cappon-Edward C. Green '40 Head Mitch Henderson recorded his 250th career victory at Princeton with the triumph over the Lions, tying Franklin "Cappy" Cappon as the second-winningest coach in program history. Only Naismith Hall of Fame member Pete Carril, who guided the Tigers to 514 victories, has coached more wins at Princeton.

The Tigers have now defeated Columbia 12-consecutive times.

"It's my last go around so I'm trying to do anything that it takes. I'm really proud of our team, @JacobHuggins12 came in and provided a real spark."

Hear from @ballerblake34 after his 18-point, 6-rebound night in the Tigers' win over Columbia!#MakeShots ???? pic.twitter.com/oa8MaQqGfx
— Princeton Men's Basketball (@PrincetonMBB) March 1, 2025

Junior Xaivian Lee led the game in scoring with 21 points on 8-for-16 shooting and had a team-high nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks. Lee, who has now scored 1,103 career points, moved up to No. 21 in program history for most points. Lee is also now tied with Kit Mueller '90 for No. 3 all-time in school history for most assists in a season.

Senior Blake Peters added 18 points on 6-for-13 shooting from the field and 5-for-10 shooting from three along with six rebounds and three assists. Junior Caden Pierce recorded 14 points, eight rebounds a game-high six assists and a game-high three steals while sophomore Jackson Hicke scored a career-high 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting and grabbed four rebounds.

An early 9-0 run by Columbia saw the Lions race out to a 12-5 lead 15:27 on the clock. With 11:24 left in the half, Columbia extended its advantage to double figures at 22-12, but Princeton would chip away at the lead and eventually tie it up, 29-29, at 6:45 after a Peters three-pointer. A Hicke three-pointer followed by a Lee layup put Princeton in front with 1:55 on the clock, but the Lions took a 40-37 advantage into halftime.

The Tigers would retake the lead early in the second half, 46-44, with 15:36 left to play after layups by Hicke and freshman CJ Happy. The momentum stayed with Princeton, as back-to-back three-pointers by Peters put the Tigers in front with11:43 left to play, 52-47. While the Lions would battle back to make it a one-point game, 56-55, at 6:17, a pair of free throws by sophomore Jacob Huggins followed by a sophomore Dalen Davis layup pushed Princeton's advantage back out to 64-59 with 2:38 remaining.

Shortly after, with 1:53 on the clock, Huggins made another clutch play; with Princeton up 64-62, Huggins blocked a layup that led to a Lee jumper that put the Tigers ahead, 66-62, with 1:26 left to play. With 0:05 on the clock, Pierce drained a pair of free throws and the Tigers held on for the 73-68 triumph.

Up Next
The Tigers face Cornell (15-10, 7-5) in Ithaca, New York, at 2 p.m. on Mar. 2 in a game broadcast to a national audience on ESPNU.