MISSION STATEMENT
Coleman, Rutgers' leading scorer at 21.8 points per game, made a key steal and layup with two minutes left, followed by four free throws in the final minute to help secure Rutgers' fourth consecutive victory against Princeton.
Herve Lamizana tied a career high with 20 points to lead Rutgers (5-2), and Spencer Gloger led all scorers with 26 points for Princeton (3-3).
Rutgers led 58-50 with 4:42 remaining on a backdoor layup by Coleman, but Princeton pulled to 58-54 on a jumper by Judson Wallace and a backdoor layup by Gloger.
Coleman, who was held to 3 points in the first half on 1-for-7 shooting, then made a foul shot and stole the ball on Princeton's ensuing possession and converted a layup to make the score 61-54.
Coleman's free throws with 40.9 left gave Rutgers a 68-60 lead; after that, Princeton couldn't get closer than five points.
Rutgers led by four points at halftime and opened a nine-point lead early in the second half. The Scarlet Knights led 47-38 with 11:36 remaining when Ricky Shields sank two free throws from a technical foul on Princeton's Ray Robins.
But Princeton, which made just one field goal during a 6:51 stretch, rallied and closed the gap to 51-49 with 6:38 left on Gloger's 3-pointer from the top of the key.
Rutgers, which entered the game shooting 43 per cent from the floor this season, was 15-of-30 in the first half, led by Lamizana, who made five of six shots from the field.
Princeton was 10-for-26 in the half. The Tigers struggled from 3-point range, making just two of 13 attempts.
Rutgers twice led by as many as six points in the first half, the second time with 5:12 left on Ricky Shields' jumper. Princeton responded with a 6-0 run to tie the game on a fast-break dunk by Ray Robins, a backdoor layup by Kyle Wente and two free throws by Ed Persia.
Center Kareem Wright scored on Rutgers' last two possessions to give the Scarlet Knights a 34-30 halftime lead.
POSTGAME NOTES
FOUR STRAIGHT OVER THE TIGERS
With the 76-70 victory, Rutgers has now defeated Princeton in four straight
games, and five of the last six meetings. Rutgers continues to chip into Princeton’s
overall series lead (the Tigers hold a 71-38 edge in the series, which began
in the 1916-17 season).
SEASON HIGH FROM THE LINE
Rutgers converted 78.3% (18-of-23) from the free throw line, a season-high for
the Scarlet Knights. The previous best for Rutgers this season was 66.7%, against
both Columbia (10-15) and Temple (8-12).
LAMIZANA MATCHES CAREER HIGH
Junior forward Herve Lamizana scored a team-high 20 points against the Tigers,
also matching his career high (set earlier this season at North Carolina).
LAMIZANA’S EARLY HOT HAND
Rutgers forward Herve Lamizana found his shooting touch early vs. Princeton,
hitting his first four field goals (including one three-pointer) before missing
his first field goal attempt with 9:12 left in the first half. Lamizana’s
hot start came after hitting a combined 5-19 (4-17 vs. Auburn and 1-2 vs. Fordham)
in the Scarlet Knights’ previous two games.
HALFTIME LEAD
Rutgers led Princeton 34-30 at halftime. The Scarlet Knights have not trailed
at the half in any of their seven games this season, and have led after the
initial stanza in six of seven games (38-38 tie at Auburn).
SEASON HIGHS (POINTS-REBOUNDS) FOR WRIGHT
Senior post man Kareem Wright scored a season-high eight points vs. Princeton.
Wright hit on 4-of-7 from the field. His previous high this season was six points
on two occasions, vs. North Carolina and Marshall. Wright also grabbed eight
rebounds vs. the Tigers, eclipsing his previous season high of six rebounds
vs. Marshall. Wright’s career highs are 20 and 13 rebounds vs. Syracuse,
on Jan. 27, 2001.
BLOCK PARTY
For the third time this season, forward Herve Lamizana registered four or more
blocks in a game with five vs. Princeton. The 6-10 junior has blocked at least
two shots in every game this season, and had a season high seven vs. Marshall.
In the last four games, Lamizana is averaging 5.3 blocks per game.
JUEL’S A JEWEL
Sophomore guard Juel Wiggan came off the bench to score a season-high eight
points, hitting 3-of-5 from the floor and 2-of-2 from the line. Wiggan also
played 19 minutes, also a season high.
50 % OR BETTER
Rutgers extended its streak of shooting 50% or better from the field to four
straight halves by hitting an even 15-of-30 from the floor in the first half
vs. Princeton, and then hitting 11-of-21 (52.4%) vs. the Tigers in the second
half. Rutgers hit on 50% (19-of-38) in the first half of its last outing vs.
Fordham, and then hit 54.5% (12-of-22) vs. the Rams in the second half.
SEASON LOW TURNOVERS
Rutgers committed just nine turnovers vs. Princeton, a season low. The previous
low was 10 vs. Auburn.
Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS
Rutgers University vs Princeton University
12/14/02 7:30 p.m. at Princeton, N.J. (Jadwin Gym)
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VISITORS: Rutgers University 5-2
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
01 Lamizana, Herve..... * 7-9 2-2 4-5 2 5 7 4 20 2 2 5 1 28
02 Shields, Ricky...... * 3-8 1-5 7-8 0 2 2 2 14 1 1 0 0 30
03 Sherrod, Mike....... * 4-5 1-1 0-0 0 2 2 3 9 4 0 0 3 32
11 Coleman, Jerome..... * 5-14 2-6 5-6 0 1 1 2 17 1 2 0 1 29
55 Wright, Kareem...... * 4-7 0-0 0-2 2 6 8 3 8 0 0 0 1 24
04 Hill, Adrian........ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
05 Davis, Cortez....... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3
13 Wiggan, Juel........ 3-5 0-0 2-2 0 1 1 2 8 0 2 0 0 19
21 McCoy, Jason........ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 5
32 Axani, Sean......... 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 20
44 Wooten, Calvin...... 0-2 0-2 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 8
TEAM................ 3 3
Totals.............. 26-51 6-16 18-23 4 25 29 19 76 8 9 5 6 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 15-30 50.0% 2nd Half: 11-21 52.4% Game: 51.0% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-8 37.5% 2nd Half: 3-8 37.5% Game: 37.5% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 1-1 100 % 2nd Half: 17-22 77.3% Game: 78.3% 1
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HOME TEAM: Princeton University 3-3
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
03 Wente, Kyle......... * 3-7 1-4 0-0 2 3 5 2 7 6 1 0 0 34
04 Gloger, Spencer..... * 10-16 4-9 2-4 3 5 8 0 26 0 1 0 0 40
22 Venable, Will....... * 2-6 0-2 10-10 2 3 5 4 14 3 2 0 0 34
30 Wallace, Judson..... * 5-14 3-7 2-4 4 8 12 4 15 2 2 0 0 36
31 Robins, Ray......... * 1-5 0-1 2-2 1 1 2 3 4 2 1 0 2 16
10 Persia, Ed.......... 1-6 0-5 2-2 0 2 2 4 4 2 3 0 0 36
33 Stephens, Mike...... 0-2 0-2 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 4
TEAM................ 2 2
Totals.............. 22-56 8-30 18-22 12 25 37 17 70 16 10 0 2 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-26 38.5% 2nd Half: 12-30 40.0% Game: 39.3% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-13 15.4% 2nd Half: 6-17 35.3% Game: 26.7% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 8-8 100 % 2nd Half: 10-14 71.4% Game: 81.8% 1
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Technical fouls: Rutgers University-None. Princeton University-Robins, Ray.
Attendance: 5117
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
Rutgers University............ 34 42 - 76
Princeton University.......... 30 40 - 70
