Bulldogs Remain A Half-Game Ahead Of Tigers In Ivy Standings

PRINCETON, N.J. – Princeton entered the weekend as the highest scoring team in the Ivy League. It was the Tigers defense, though, that caused Yale problems. The Bulldogs shot just 39 percent from the field and dropped a 75-63 decision to Princeton before big crowd of 4,211 at Jadwin Gym.

The loss snapped Yale's 12-game winning streak. The Bulldogs (17-6 overall) still sit atop the Ivy standings at 8-1, a half-game better than the Tigers, who improved to 7-1. Columbia also remains in the hunt at 7-2.

"Our offense was sluggish," said James Jones, The Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of the Bulldogs. "They did a great job extending out, and we didn't take care of the basketball."

Devin Cannady scored 20 points off the bench to lead the Tigers. He was 5-of-7 from the field, 3-of-4 from three point range and 7-of-8 from the foul line. Spencer Weisz added 15 points and Henry Caruso scored 14.

Brandon Sherrod and Makai Mason both had 18 points to pace Yale, and Justin Sears scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Yale had a six-point lead with five minutes left in the first half, but Princeton used an 18-2 run to take a 39-29 lead at the break.

Sherrod scored the first six points of the second half, but Princeton quickly pushed the lead back to 11. The Bulldogs closed within six on a couple of occasions but never got closer.

"We didn't make good decisions," Jones said. "We could have put more pressure on them."

After going 7-of-12 from three-point range in the first half, the Tigers were just 1-of-8 over the final 20 minutes. Princeton, though, was 17-of-21 from the free throw line, which helped thwart Yale's comeback attempt.

The Bulldogs are right back at it on Saturday at Penn. The Quakers beat Brown 79-74.

"We've been here before," said Sears, one of three seniors in the starting lineup. "We can't crack. We have five games remaining."

NOTES: Yale outrebounded the Tigers 39-31… Sears had a team-high 10, while Anthony Dallier and Nick Victor both grabbed seven… The Bulldogs were just 1-of-12 from three-point range, while Princeton finished 8-of-20… Sears' double-double was his fourth of the season and second in the last three games… Yale committed 16 turnovers… Saturday's game at Penn is a 7 p.m. tip and can be seen on the Ivy League Digital Network and ESPN3.