Dec. 6, 2009

Box Score

PRINCETON, N.J. - Doug Davis found all of the open spaces in Lafayette's defense on Sunday, draining seven three-pointers in a 62-48 final. Princeton hit five three-pointers in the first eight minutes of the second half to break open a two-point game.

Davis finished with a game-high 23 points, hitting seven of the Tigers' 12 three-point field goals on the evening. The Leopards (4-5) were led by 17 points from Jared Mintz who also contributed a team-high six rebounds. He was the only player in double figures for the Leopards who endured their second worst shooting performance of the season (38%).

The two teams scored 46 points between them in the first half, and each ran off an 8-0 run. Lafayette used a three by Jeff Kari, a three-point play from Mintz and a Ben Wheeler jumper to lead 18-11 with 5:38 left in the half.

Princeton (3-4) answered with eight straight of its own, ending with a Dan Mavraides three at the four-minute mark to lead 19-18. Lafayette led 24-22 at halftime with Mintz pacing the Leopards with 11 points.

In the second half, Mavraides (13 points) hit his second three of the game to tie it up at 31-31 four and a half minutes into the half. Mintz answered with his second three-pointer of the season less than a minute later, but Davis tied it again (34-34) with 14:15 left. Lafayette took its last lead of the game at the 12-minute mark when Wheeler shot over a Mintz ball screen to net a three and the 37-36 advantage.

That was the Leopards' last lead of the game. The Tigers put together a 9-2 run and led 45-38 with 8:20 left. Princeton extended its advantage to 11 twice in the final four and a half minutes, both times on Davis three-pointers. Patrick Saunders hit a three before the shot clock buzzer in the final minute to put the final margin at 14 (62-48). Saunders finished with 15 points, including 12 in the second half.

The Leopards produced a season-high 10 steals, but dished off a season-low seven assists and had a season-low four three-pointers while shooting 33 percent from beyond the three-point arc.

Lafayette looks to snap its four-game losing streak on Wednesday when the Leopards host Fairleigh Dickinson at 7 p.m. at Kirby Sports Center.