#22 Men’s Basketball Upsets Division I Princeton 51-46

Dec. 28 - (PRINCETON, N.J.) - Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team traveled to Princeton, N.J. to take on Division I Ivy League opponent, Princeton University Wednesday, December 28 and came away with a 51-46 upset victory. Head Coach Tony Wingen called this win one of the greatest victories in school history. The Tartans move to 10-0 on the season, as the Tigers move to 2-8.

Princeton jumped out to an early 8-6 lead not before Carnegie senior A.J. Straub (St. Marys, Pa./Elk County Catholic) connected from deep behind the three-point arc giving the Tartans the one point lead with 13:22 to play in the first half. Straub's three-point basket marked his 13th straight game with a three-pointer dating back to last season. On Princeton's ensuing possession sophomore Noah Savage hit two from the charity stripe putting the Tigers back on top by one. Carnegie Mellon would catch Princeton off guard, when the inbound pass went to freshman Corey O’Rourke (Merion, Pa./St. Joe’s Prep) who found junior Greg Gonzalez (Southlake, Texas/Carroll) under the basket completing the fast break lay-up putting the Tartans back up 11-10.

The Tartans would maintain the lead until 1:42 left in the half when freshman Alex Okafor hit two free throws for the Tigers making the score 28-27. Carnegie Mellon would go scoreless over the next 2:15, as Princeton would extend their lead to five points, 32-27. Senior Clayton Barlow-Wilcox (Brookline, Mass.) would pull the Tartans within three (32-29) on a fade away jumper, as the teams headed into the locker room.

In the first half Princeton was perfect (12-12) from the line and shot 42 percent from the field. The Tartans went 5-of-7 from the line, as they shot 46 percent from the field.

Carnegie went on a 4-0 run to take a 33-32 lead just under three minutes into the second half. Princeton's Savage would answer the Tartans run with a deep three-pointer putting the Tigers back up. The Tartans recaptured the lead (36-35) on their next possession down the floor when Barlow-Wilcox converted on a three-point play with 16:09 on the clock. Senior Nate Maurer (Pittsburgh, Pa./Linsly School) would keep the Tartans momentum rolling, as he hit a three-pointer with 14:16 on the clock giving Carnegie Mellon a 39-35 lead.

Carnegie Mellon stretched the lead to seven points (42-35) on junior Brad Matta's (White Oak, Pa./Serra Catholic) three-pointer. Princeton would put an end to their seven minutes and thirty second scoreless streak when junior Edwin Buffmire stole a Tartan pass and converted on the lay-up cutting into the Tartans lead at 42-37.

The Tartans would go on a scoreless streak of their own over a stretch of 5:44 ending on two free throws from Maurer with 6:37 left in regulation giving Carnegie Mellon a 44-40 lead.

Princeton would knot the score (46-46) on a lay-up by Okafor with 2:57. The Tartans turned the ball over on their next possession, but the Tigers could not capitalize as they committed a turnover as well.

Maurer would put the Tartans ahead by two (48-46) on a lay-up with 1:21. The score would remain unchanged until sophomore Geoff Kozak (Huntingdon, Pa.) drove in the lane and hit a lay-up as the shot clock was running out with 14 seconds left. After a Tiger turnover, with 7.6 second remaining, Straub sealed the five point victory (51-46) with a foul shot.

The Tartans finished the game shooting 44 percent from the field to the Tigers 28 percent. Carnegie Mellon had the edge on the glass for the ninth time this season, as they hauled in 33 to the Tigers 27. Barlow-Wilcox led the Tartans with 15 points and nine rebounds. Maurer was the only other Tartan in double figures chipping in with 13.

The loss was the first for Princeton against a Division III opponent in school history, snapping a 27 game winning streak.

Carnegie Mellon will be back in action January 2 when they travel to Bluffton University for a 7:30 p.m. tip. The Tartans will continue University Athletic Association (UAA) play when they travel to Brandeis University in Boston, Mass. Friday, January 6 at 8:00 p.m.