On Thanksgiving Eve, the Princeton men traveled to the Jersey Shore to play the Monmouth Hawks in West Long Branch. This in-state rivalry has developed into an interesting and mostly competitive affair in the previous decade.
Sadly, for Tiger fans, this game was neither interesting nor competitive, particularly in the second half.
Although the Tigers prevailed in a back-and-forth first half, 46-39, the Hawks seized the momentum in the final minutes, closing the period on a 9-2 run.
King Rice’s team dominated the second half, doubling up the Tigers, 37-18. Princeton appeared to lose focus toward the end of the game. A 13-2 run established an eight-point margin for the home team, 65-57, at the 11:06 mark. With just under nine minutes remaining, senior guard Jaelin Llewellyn finished a fast break to pull the Tigers within three at 65-62. Princeton managed just two points from then on to the Hawks’ 11. The final was 76-64. Clearly, this was the Tigers’ most lackluster performance of the season.
The Tigers turned the ball over 12 times, allowing nine steals. Both teams shot the ball well and each made 10 from deep. Monmouth made five more twos than the Tigers, accounting for the difference on the final scoreboard.
Llewellyn maintained his scoring average with 17 in a team-high 36 minutes. He turned the ball over only once, a lone bright spot for the team. Senior guard Ethan Wright (13) and junior guard Ryan Langborg (10) joined Llewellyn in double figures. Junior forward Keeshawn Kellman started the game but once again was limited to just four minutes. First-year forward Mason Hooks, the 6’9” banger from California, grabbed six offensive rebounds in 16 minutes.
Princeton returns to Jadwin on Sunday afternoon against Fairleigh Dickinson at 4 p.m. This contest is the nightcap of a doubleheader, the only one on the schedule this season. The Tiger women square off against Maine in the 1 p.m. opener.