Newark, NJ—Caden Pierce delivered a clutch basket in the final seconds to counter a go-ahead three-pointer by Rutgers’ Ace Bailey, securing an 83-82 win for Princeton on Saturday in the Never Forget Tribute Classic at the Prudential Center.
The Tigers (9-4) appeared in control late in the game, as Xaivian Lee’s layup extended their lead to 81-75 with just over two minutes remaining. However, the Scarlet Knights (7-5) fought back with jump shots from Jeremiah Williams and Bailey to narrow the gap to two points. Williams then intercepted a pass from Pierce, setting up Bailey’s three-pointer that gave Rutgers a one-point edge with 17 seconds left.
Pierce responded with a decisive basket in the paint, and Princeton sealed the victory when Dylan Harper’s potential game-winning three-pointer missed at the buzzer.
Pierce and Lee led Princeton with standout performances, each scoring 21 points. Pierce also grabbed 14 rebounds, recording his third double-double of the season. Lee added 11 assists and six rebounds, earning his first career triple-double in the process.
For the Knights, Harper, who ranks third nationally with a 23.4-point scoring average, paced the team with 22 points. Bailey, a freshman, contributed 15 points and 12 rebounds, marking his fourth double-double of the season. Jordan Derkack added 10 points and five rebounds off the bench.
In the first half, Harper’s 17 points helped Rutgers take a narrow 46-44 lead into the break, while Pierce kept Princeton close with 13 points. The Scarlet Knights led by as much as five, while Princeton’s largest advantage was four in a tightly contested opening period.
With the victory, Princeton has now beaten Rutgers in two consecutive meetings and holds a commanding 77-45 advantage in the all-time series. Before this recent streak, Rutgers had won 11 of the previous 15 matchups.
Both teams are now idle until Dec. 30. Rutgers will host Columbia, while Princeton will welcome Akron.
