Box Score Box Score
PRINCETON, N.J. -- The Princeton defense kept Cornell's explosive offense at bay and snapped the Big Red's 19-game win streak with a 61-41 victory on Friday evening at Jadwin Gymnasium. The Tigers remained unbeaten in conference action at 3-0 (8-8 overall), while Cornell fell to 4-1 (14-7) in conference action.
The Tigers limited Cornell to a season-low 41 points, surrendered just 32 percent shooting (14-of-44) and 12 percent from 3-point range (2-of-17) in losing its first Ivy League contest since falling to Harvard in the second to last game of the 2006-07 campaign. It snapped a nine-game win streak overall, as well as a four-game streak at Jadwin Gymnasium.
Louis Dale had 12 points, five rebounds and three assists and was the only player in double figures for the Big Red. Ryan Wittman added nine points and four rebounds and both Geoff Reeves and Jeff Foote had six apiece. The Big Red turned the ball over 14 times and assisted on just four of 14 baskets. Cornell did hold a 32-28 edge on the glass.
The Tigers had four players in double figures and shot well from the field (50 percent) and from behind the 3-point line (57 percent) in earning the win. Pawel Buczak had a game-high 15 points and six rebounds, hitting 6-of-7 shots from the field and all three 3-pointers in 28 minutes, while Dan Mavraides notched 12 points and four assists. Kareem Maddox (11 points) and Marcus Schroeder (10 points) also reached double figures in scoring.
The Big Red got off to a slow start with four quick turnovers and the Princeton defense did a good job of slowing the Big Red offense down and limiting the team to one shot in taking a 13-8 lead 12 minutes in. The Tigers continued to keep their pace, frustrating the Big Red and getting two more steals that led to baskets, the last by Zach Finley with 4:15 left in the half to make it 22-13.
The Tiger lead would grow to as many as 12 (29-17) before Reeves hit a 3-pointer with five seconds to play to send Cornell into the break trailing 29-20.
Cornell shot just 42 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes, turned the ball over eight timesand were outrebounded 15-11. The Big Red connected on just 1-of-8 shots from beyond the arc, with Reeves' late trey being the first of the game for Cornell. The Tigers got 14 points off Cornell's eight turnovers, with Buczak leading the way with eight points and three rebounds.
Cornell came out in the second half and nailed four of its first six shots, including a 3-pointer by Wittman from the left corner that cut the Princeton lead to 32-29 just 3:45 in. The lead remained within five, as the Big Red had plenty of chances to tie the game. When Jeff Foote hit a little jumper in the lane to make it 34-31 with 15:24 left, the Big Red had seven possessions to cut the deficit to one or tie the game, including two open looks that were rimmed out from behind the arc by Wittman. When Buczak finally scored on a layup with 11:42 left to make it 36-31, the Tigers would again take control, this time for good. Cornell would only get back to within five once the rest of the way, at Dale hit four straight free throws to make it 40-35 with 9:10 left.
The Tigers were able to pour it on late, outscoring Cornell 10-0 over the final 3:07 as the Big Red furiously tried to press its way back into the game, turning a grinder into a decisive victory for the home team.
The Big Red returns to action tomorrow at 7 p.m. when it meets Penn at the Palestra. The Big Red will be looking to win its second straight contest at the Palestra after losing 18 consecutive prior to last year's 94-92 win over the Quakers.
