Brown Stuns Princeton
Sunday, February 20, 2011
With 2nd-ranked Texas falling to Nebraska Saturday afternoon, only one team in division one men’s college basketball remained undefeated in league play heading into Saturday night. That team was the Princeton Tigers who were (8-0) in Ivy League play heading into their match-up with the Brown Bears at the Pizzatola Sports Center.
At (19-4) over all with an RPI ranking of 47, the Tigers were favored to run their conference record to (9-0) against a Brown team they had beaten by 18 points three weeks earlier in New Jersey. But the Bears didn’t look like a team that wanted any part of the underdog role.
Senior co-captain Peter Sullivan led the Bears by matching his season-high with 26 points leading his team to the 75-65 win. Sullivan, who was playing with a shoulder brace to protect his dislocated right shoulder, made a living at the free throw line going 16 for 16 from the stripe. He scored 16 against Penn the night before in his return to the line-up stating his case strongly for Ivy League Player of the Week honors.
Brown led from the opening tap taking, at one point, an 11-point first half lead. The Bears would settle for a 5-point advantage at the break 35-30.
Princeton took its first and only lead of the game with 12:28 to play in the second half when Ian Hummer (18 pts, 12 reb) hit a jumper to put the Tigers up 45-44.
Undaunted, Brown responded with a three by senior Garrett Leffelman (11 pts) to go up 47-45.
It was still a game with 6:18 to play with the Bears up 56-52 but Brown finished strong outscoring the Tigers 15-5 over the next 5 minutes to put the game away.
Ivy League Rookie of the Week Sean McGonagill had his usual outstanding performance with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Sophomore big man Andrew McCarthy also provided a huge boost off the bench with 15 points. McCarthy benefitted from some great passes by both McGonagill and Tucker Halpern (5 pts, 7 assists, 4 reb).
For decades Brown had trouble beating Princeton on the hardwood. However, with last night’s win, the Bears have now won 8 of the last 11 against the Tigers.
With the win, Brown improves to (10-14, 3-7 Ivy Lg). The loss drops the Tigers to (20-5, 8-1 Ivy Lg). With Harvard’s win at Columbia last night, the Crimson now take a half game lead on the Tigers. Harvard is (9-1) in league play.
Brown hosts Harvard Friday night looking to play the role of spoiler once again. This time, Princeton will be pulling for the Bears.
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