Princeton Still Alive At NIT
Chris Young scored a career high 24 points and reserve C.J. Chapman hit three key 3-pointers as Princeton held on to defeat North Carolina State 61-58 Monday night in the second round of the NIT.
The Tigers (22-7), now 7-1 all-time in the NIT, advanced to the third round against Xavier, a winner over Wake Forest.
Bill Carmody's five starters all went 40 minutes in Princeton's first-round win over Georgetown, but this time he got a big boost off the bench from Chapman, who scored nine points after being held scoreless in his last six games.
Young's previous high was 23 points against Columbia on Feb. 27.
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The Wolfpack (19-14) failed to make it to the third round of the NIT for the third straight season at home and fell one win shy of 20 for the first time in eight years.
Anthony Grundy led N.C. State with 21 points.
Young, the Ivy League rookie of the year, did most of his damage in the first half, scoring 16 points in the opening 20 minutes as the Tigers led by eight.
Princeton increased the margin to as many as 11 midway through the second half before the Wolfpack closed within three on a Ron Kelley follow with 49 seconds left.
But Brian earl hit a hotly-contested driving layup with the shot clock winding down and 15 seconds left in the game to clinch it for the Tigers.
Princeton took the early lead, setting the tempo with its deliberate offense and zone defense. But the Wolfpack went on a 15-2 run as its athletic front line began to take over.
Kelley sparked the surge with a follow shot, a hook in the lane and a layup for a 17-10 lead as the Tigers went cold from the outside, missing five straight 3-pointers.
But Princeton's cold shooting wouldn't last long. The Tigers made five straight shots from behind the arc as part of a 17-2 run to close the half for a 27-19 lead. Young scored eight points during the 6½-minute run, including two 3-ponters.
Xavier 87, Wake Forest 76
Lenny Brown scored 19 points Monday as Xavier cruised to an 87-76 victory over Wake Forest in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament.
Brown, who holds Xavier's career and season records for 3-pointers, hit 5 of 8 from long range as the Musketeers remained unbeaten in 14 home games this season.
Wake Forest lost in the second round of the NIT for the second consecutive year.
James Posey led Xavier with 23 points, 11 of them from the foul line.
Robert O'Kelley scored 36 points for Wake Forest, going 13-of-22 from the field.
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