Game 19: Penn 62, Princeton 55 (OT)
The Ivy League's most famous rivalry is renewed.
UPDATE:
» READ MORE: Here's
the box score,
» READ MORE: here's
the expanded box score and
» READ MORE: here's
the early Inquirer recap. Both papers had staff writers in attendance so there will be a lot more coverage in the morning.
Zack Rosen's Line of the Game and audio of the postgame press conferences are below the live blog transcript window. Princeton center Zach Finley's 11 points and 15 rebounds, which led to a game-high efficiency figure of 21, are duly noted. But Rosen gave an outstanding performance at both ends of the floor in his first college game against the Princeton offense.
The old adage about former Penn coach Fran Dunphy is that he refused to play freshmen (and sometimes other underclassmen) against Princeton unless absolutely necessary because of the intricacies of the Tigers' system. But Rosen proved his mettle tonight, including a three-pointer in overtime that was arguably the game's biggest shot.
PRINCETON, N.J. - Beneath the soaring, geodesic dome-like roof of Jadwin Gymnasium, there hang a total of 18 banners celebrating the rich history of Princeton basketball: dozens of Ivy League titles, NCAA Tournament and NIT appearances, and the retired No. 42 of Tigers legend Bill Bradley.
But as the home team took the floor tonight to face their most hated Ivy League rivals, the overwhelming majority of the 6,854 seats that surrounded them lay empty.
In years gone by, most famously when Pete Carril's offense was wreaking nationwide havoc on college basketball, the second Tuesday in February was defined by the first of two biennial meetings between Penn and Princeton.
Yet of late, it has often seemed that this game in this building has been watched by as many ghosts as people.
This year, and perhaps this night, could offer a chance for that restive flame to be re-kindled.
Both Penn and Princeton are led this season by dynamic freshman guards: Philadelphia native Douglas Davis at Princeton and Colonia, N.J. native Zack Rosen at Penn.
If this game is to return to prominence, perhaps these two young men are the ones to lead the way.
Off we go.