CJ Happy came off the bench to contribute 16 points, leading Princeton to a decisive 94-67 victory over Portland in the battle for seventh place at the Myrtle Beach Invitational tournament on Sunday.

Happy performed efficiently, hitting 7 out of 9 shots from the floor, including 2 from long range. Caden Pierce also made a significant impact, scoring 15 points by connecting on 6 of 8 attempts, with 3 of those being three-pointers. Additionally, Blake Peters added 14 points, making 5 of his 11 attempts, with 4 coming from beyond the arc.

For the Pilots, who now hold a record of 2-5, Vukasin Masic was the standout performer, finishing with 12 points and dishing out four assists. Mikah Ballew matched that scoring output, also contributing 12 points to the team’s efforts, while Jinup Dobuol chipped in 10 points.

Princeton seized control early in the game, taking the lead just 17 seconds in and maintaining it throughout. By halftime, they had established a comfortable 52-29 advantage, with Pierce scoring 15 points in the first half alone. The second half saw Princeton expand their lead to as much as 61-29, thanks to an impressive 9-0 scoring streak. Malik Abdullahi top-scored in the latter half for Princeton, adding eight points to help secure the victory.

Looking ahead, Princeton is scheduled to face Nazareth at home on Wednesday, while Portland prepares to host Denver on Sunday.