Princeton Survives Penn Scare

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

March 3, 1998 / 10:58 PM EST / CBS

Steve Goodrich scored a career-high 33 points, including five in overtime, as No. 8 Princeton survived a scare from Ivy League rival Penn with a 78-72 win Tuesday night.

The Tigers (26-1, 14-0 Ivy League), had to go to overtime for the first time this season to win their 19th straight since losing to North Carolina in December. The Tigers had already secured the league title and automatic bid with a win over Cornell on Saturday.

Bill Carmody is 28-0 in the Ivy League since joining Princeton last season. Penn (17-12, 10-4) has lost five straight to the Tigers.

After being outshot 56 to 42 percent in the second half, Princeton outscored Penn 12-6 in the extra period. Penn made just two baskets and the Tigers went 8-for-15 from the line in overtime.

Gabe Lewullis had 18 points, including many of Princeton's big shots down the stretch. He made a jumper to give the Tigers a 1-point lead with one minute left in regulation and a layup and foul shot to give Princeton a 4-point cushion in overtime.

Paul Romanczuk had 22 points and nine rebounds. Michael Jordan had 14 points, while George Mboya tied a career high with 10.

Though Princeton led by 18 late in the first half, they trailed 64-62 after Jordan hit a 3-pointer, then drove and hit a foul shot with under two minutes remaining.

Goodrich missed the back end of a one-and-one, but got the rebound and Lewullis hit a jumper as Penn retook the lead, 65-64. After Matt Langel got a rebound and put it back for the Quakers, James Mastaglio was fouled on a backdoor cut. He hit one free throw but missed the second.

Jordan threw up an airball at the end of regulation.

Down 37-19, Penn went on a 17-4 run fueled by three Tigers turnovers, cutting the lead to five. Mboya keyed The Quakers' spurt with three layups and three foul shots.

Penn cut it to 42-40 seven minutes into the half when Goodrich picked up a fourth foul all in the second half. His replacement, Nathan Walton, missed his first shot and Romanczuk tied it at 44-44 on his fourth basket in a row.