Feb. 13, 2005
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Luke Owings hit a three-pointer early in the first half to put Princeton up 5-3, and the Tigers did not trail again en-route to a 63-53 win vs. Columbia at Jadwin Gym. With the loss Columbia falls to 12-9, 3-5 Ivy, while Princeton improves to 11-10, 2-5 Ivy.
Princeton led by two at the half, 20-18, but a layup by Mac Schafer and another three-pointer by Owings pushed the lead out to seven at the 18 minute mark of the second period.
Jeremiah Boswell (Jasper, Ga.) grabbed a steal and Brett Loscalzo (Ridgefield, Conn.) found Matt Preston (Wantagh, N.Y.) for a layup seconds later to cut the lead to four, 25-21 with 16 minutes remaining, but Will Venable answered with a steal and layup of his own to push the lead back out to six.
Each time the Lions rallied, Venable had an answer as the senior finished with five steals, 15 points, and five rebounds. Venable finished just 2 of 2 from the floor, but added 11 points off free throws (11 of 15).
Columbia got within three at the 12-minute mark, but that was as close as the Lions would get as the Tigers went on a 9-2 run with 10 remaining to put the game away for good.
Preston finished with 20 points, three rebounds and three steals. Tito Hill (Woodland Hills, Calif.) totaled nine in the loss.
Scott Greenman finished with 17 to lead the Lions.
Columbia finished 22 of 28 from the free throw line, while Princeton went 31 of 40. Both teams only made 14 field goals, and the Lions made three three-pointers (3-15) and Princeton made four (4-12).
Columbia returns to action on Friday when they travel to Harvard for a 7 p.m. match-up.
