.png&width=24&type=webp)
Saturday, March 15
Providence, R.I.
11:00 AM
Princeton University
19-11,8-6Ivy League
57
vs
59
Yale (Semifinal)
21-7,13-1Ivy League
1
2
F
Princeton
25
32
57
Yale
31
28
59
Lee Breaks Single Season Assist Record, Men's Basketball Falls Just Short To Yale In Ivy Madness Semifinal
March 15, 2025 | Men's Basketball
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Junior Xaivian Lee made history Saturday afternoon inside the Pizzitola Sports Center in the Ivy League Tournament semifinals, setting a new program record for single season assists with 165 as the fourth-seeded Tigers fell just short to top-seeded Yale, 59-57.
Lee's 165 assists in 2024-25 top the previous record of 161 held by Tosan Evbuomwan '23 and William Ryan '84. Additionally, Lee's 301 career assists rank No. 10 all-time in program history.
Lee recorded 14 points, a team-high seven rebounds along with a game-high six assists. Senior Blake Peters tied the team-high in scoring with 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting and 4-for-9 from three and added five rebounds and four assists, while junior Caden Pierce and sophomore Dalen Davis each scored 11 points.
After the Bulldogs opened the game with a 12-0 run, Davis got the Tigers on the scoreboard with a three-pointer with 14:37 on the clock. Princeton would battle back and narrow the deficit to four, 16-12, with 10:12 left in the half after a powerful Pierce dunk and three-point play by Lee. While an 8-0 Bulldog run extended Yale's lead back out to double figures at 2:45, 31-20, a Peters three-pointer followed by a Davis layup made it a 31-25 contest at the half.
The Tigers gained momentum in the second half, with three-pointers by Lee and Peters followed by a pair of Davis free throws narrowing the deficit down to two, 49-47, with 7:27 remaining. Pierce crossed over and finished down the lane to keep it a two-point game, 53-51, at 4:09, then then Princeton took a 54-53 lead after a three-pointer by freshman CJ Happy with 3:29 remaining. A Bulldog three-point play followed by a Lee three-pointer saw the Tigers stay in front, 57-56, with 1:32 on the clock, but a Yale three-pointer with 1:00 left to play put the Bulldogs back in front, 59-57. Lee attempted a step-back three-pointer for the win with 0:03 on the clock but it fell just short as Yale held on for the win.
Lee's 165 assists in 2024-25 top the previous record of 161 held by Tosan Evbuomwan '23 and William Ryan '84. Additionally, Lee's 301 career assists rank No. 10 all-time in program history.
Lee recorded 14 points, a team-high seven rebounds along with a game-high six assists. Senior Blake Peters tied the team-high in scoring with 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting and 4-for-9 from three and added five rebounds and four assists, while junior Caden Pierce and sophomore Dalen Davis each scored 11 points.
After the Bulldogs opened the game with a 12-0 run, Davis got the Tigers on the scoreboard with a three-pointer with 14:37 on the clock. Princeton would battle back and narrow the deficit to four, 16-12, with 10:12 left in the half after a powerful Pierce dunk and three-point play by Lee. While an 8-0 Bulldog run extended Yale's lead back out to double figures at 2:45, 31-20, a Peters three-pointer followed by a Davis layup made it a 31-25 contest at the half.
The Tigers gained momentum in the second half, with three-pointers by Lee and Peters followed by a pair of Davis free throws narrowing the deficit down to two, 49-47, with 7:27 remaining. Pierce crossed over and finished down the lane to keep it a two-point game, 53-51, at 4:09, then then Princeton took a 54-53 lead after a three-pointer by freshman CJ Happy with 3:29 remaining. A Bulldog three-point play followed by a Lee three-pointer saw the Tigers stay in front, 57-56, with 1:32 on the clock, but a Yale three-pointer with 1:00 left to play put the Bulldogs back in front, 59-57. Lee attempted a step-back three-pointer for the win with 0:03 on the clock but it fell just short as Yale held on for the win.
Team Stats
PU
Yale
FG%
.386
.449
3FG%
.286
.200
FT%
1.000
.667
RB
28
35
TO
9
9
STL
5
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballReflections from the Princeton Athletics Class of 2025
Tuesday, May 27
Hard Cuts | Season 7 - Episode 16
Thursday, March 13
Hard Cuts | Season 7 - Episode 15
Tuesday, March 04
Hard Cuts | Season 7 - Episode 14
Wednesday, February 12