PRINCETON, N.J. – The battle for first place was all Yale.
Azar Swain led five Bulldogs in double figures with 23 points as Yale rolled to a dominant 88-64 victory over Princeton at Jadwin Gym.
The victory moved the Bulldogs into sole possession of first place in the Ivy League with a 6-1 record. The Tigers fell to 5-2 in Ivy play.
Jordan Bruner (13 points),
Paul Atkinson (12),
Eric Monroe (12) and
August Mahoney (12) joined Swain in double figures.
Yale (18-5) shot 57.9 percent from the field, while limiting Princeton to just 38.8 percent. It was the defensive success that most impressed
James Jones, The Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of the Bulldogs.
"We got back to our brand of basketball," he said. "When we do that, we're a really good team."
Jones wasn't pleased with his team's defensive effort last weekend against Harvard and in the first half vs. Dartmouth.
Bruner, who returned to the lineup after missing last Saturday's game against the Big Green, agreed.
"That's what we do," he said. "Last week was a step back defensively, but [tonight] we were able to get stops as a team."
The Bulldogs limited Ryan Schwieger and Richmond Aririguzoh – Princeton's two top scorers – to four points each. The two combined to go just 1-of-11 from the field.
"When we are locked in defensively, we can play with any team in the country," Swain said.
Swain continued his stellar offensive play as well. He was 10-of-14 from the field and added three three-pointers.
"I work to stay consistent," said Swain, who had 33 points last Friday vs. Harvard. "I try to prove myself every night."
Bruner made a big impact in his return as well. He scored seven points in the first five minutes as Yale built an early 10-point lead. By halftime, the Bulldogs were in front 43-25, and the lead grew to as many as 31 in the second half.
Ten different Bulldogs scored in the game.
Matthue Cotton contributed eight points off the bench.
Jalen Gabbidon, Eze Dike, EJ Jarvis and
Jake Lanford all added two.
Wyatt Yess had four rebounds and a block in 13 minutes off the bench.
Yale has now won five straight games over Princeton.
The Bulldogs play at Penn on Saturday. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. at The Palestra.
