PRINCETON, N.J. (Interstat) — Jack Stanton scored 23 points as Princeton erased an 18-point halftime deficit to defeat Penn 78-76 in an Ivy League men’s basketball game Monday night at Jadwin Gymnasium. The Tigers, who trailed 32-24 at halftime, outscored the Quakers 54-44 after the break to complete the comeback. Ethan Roberts led Penn with 19 points and four assists. Dalen Davis added 19 points for Princeton. The victory improved Princeton to 5-11 overall. Penn fell to 7-7. Attendance was 2,438.

PRINCETON, N.J. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of momentum, the Princeton Tigers erased a 14-point halftime deficit to edge the Penn Quakers 78-76 in an Ivy League men’s basketball thriller on Monday night at a raucous Jadwin Gymnasium. The game’s defining sequence, a chaotic and critical final six seconds, encapsulated the night’s drama. Trailing by one, Penn’s Ethan Roberts drove the lane and converted a difficult layup with seven seconds remaining, putting the Quakers ahead 76-75 and silencing much of the crowd of 2,438. Princeton, without a timeout, raced the ball upcourt. Guard Dalen Davis, a sparkplug off the bench, received the inbound pass, surged into the frontcourt and attacked the rim, scoring a layup while being fouled with six ticks left. Davis missed the ensuing free throw, but the Tigers retained possession off the dead-ball rebound. Forced to foul, Penn sent Davis back to the line with six seconds still showing. He missed the first attempt but coolly sank the second, giving Princeton a 78-76 lead. Penn had one final chance. After a timeout, the Quakers inbounded to AJ Levine, whose contested three-point attempt from the top of the key as time expired missed everything, sealing a remarkable comeback victory for the home team. The contest was a tale of two halves, dictated by Princeton’s defensive adjustment and offensive explosion. The first half belonged entirely to Penn. The Quakers, executing with precision, built a 32-24 lead at the break. They were fueled by a perfect 19-for-19 performance from the free-throw line and stifled the Princeton offense, holding the Tigers to just 24 points on 28% shooting from the floor. Penn’s Ethan Roberts and Michael Zanoni combined for 21 first-half points, while Princeton star Jack Stanton was limited to eight. The second half, however, witnessed a complete transformation. Princeton emerged from the locker room with relentless defensive pressure, speeding up the Quakers and creating transition opportunities. The Tigers unleashed a 22-9 run over the first six minutes, erasing the deficit and taking a 46-41 lead. Stanton, the sophomore from Downers Grove, Illinois, ignited the surge, scoring 15 of his game-high 23 points after halftime. Davis provided a monumental lift off the bench, scoring all 19 of his points in the second period on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting. Penn, which had been so steady in the first half, was rattled by Princeton’s intensity. The Quakers committed nine of their 13 turnovers after the break, leading to easy Tiger baskets. While Penn continued to shoot well, finishing at 45.6% from the field and a perfect 19-for-19 from the line, their offensive rhythm was disrupted. Roberts led Penn with 19 points and four assists, while Levine added 15 and Zanoni 13. Princeton’s offensive efficiency in the final 20 minutes was staggering. The Tigers scored 54 points, shooting 65.5% from the field and 5-of-9 from three-point range. They also dominated the glass in the half, overcoming a rebounding deficit to finish with a key edge in second-chance opportunities down the stretch. Statistically, the game was a study in contrasting strengths. Penn’s flawless free-throw shooting and 11 offensive rebounds kept them in contention. Princeton, however, won the efficiency battle, posting an offensive rating of 118.3 to Penn’s 111.7, thanks to better shooting from the field (53.8% to 45.6%) and fewer turnovers (9 to 13). The Tigers’ defense also recorded five steals and four blocks. With the victory, Princeton improves to 5-11 overall and opens Ivy League play at 1-0. The Tigers, who were projected as a 73% favorite pregame but had struggled to close out games this season, finally secured a tight victory. Penn falls to 7-7 overall and 0-1 in the conference, seeing a two-game win streak snapped in heartbreaking fashion. Both teams continue Ivy League play on Saturday. Princeton will host Yale, while Penn returns home to face Brown.

Ivy League Rivals Princeton and Penn Set for Showdown PRINCETON, N.J. (Interstat) — Ivy League men’s basketball play opens Monday with a historic rivalry as the Penn Quakers visit the Princeton Tigers at Jadwin Gymnasium. Penn (7-6) enters with a winning record, seeking momentum after an 80-61 victory over NJIT on Dec. 31. Princeton (4-11) looks to build on its most recent result, a 75-69 overtime win against Vermont on Dec. 30 that snapped a three-game skid. The Quakers have been led by guard AJ Levine, who is coming off a 19-point, five-rebound, four-assist performance against NJIT. Over his last four games, Levine is averaging 12.3 points and 5.3 assists. He was complemented in the win by Michael Zanoni’s 23 points and Augustus Gerhart’s 16 points and nine rebounds. Princeton counters with guard Jackson Hicke, who logged 45 minutes in the overtime win against Vermont, finishing with 17 points, six rebounds and five assists. Hicke has been a consistent offensive force, scoring in double figures in nine of his last ten contests. While Penn holds the better overall record, recent history suggests a tight contest. Three of Penn’s six losses have come by four points or fewer, including a one-point defeat at Rutgers on Dec. 20. Princeton has also endured close setbacks, with five of its eleven losses decided by six points or less. The game marks the first of two regular-season meetings between the programs. They will meet again in Philadelphia on Feb. 7. Following Monday’s contest, Penn will host Brown on Jan. 10. Princeton will remain at home to face Yale on the same date.