NEWARK, N.J. — In a thrilling conclusion to the Never Forget Tribute Classic at the Prudential Center, Caden Pierce’s crucial basket with just five seconds left helped Princeton secure a narrow victory against Rutgers, finishing 83-82. Ace Bailey’s late 3-pointer briefly gave the Scarlet Knights a lead, but Pierce’s drive to the basket sealed the game for the Tigers.

With 2:28 remaining, Xaivian Lee’s layup had earlier pushed Princeton ahead by six at 81-75. However, Rutgers responded fiercely, as Jeremiah Williams and Bailey connected on jump shots that narrowed the gap to just two points. A critical steal by Williams from Pierce eventually set up another 3-pointer by Bailey, giving Rutgers a one-point edge with only 17 seconds left on the clock. But Pierce’s quick score allowed Princeton to regain the lead, and a missed 3-pointer by Dylan Harper at the buzzer confirmed Princeton’s victory.

Caden Pierce and Xaivian Lee were standout performers for Princeton, each contributing an impressive 21 points. Pierce also achieved a double-double with 14 rebounds, marking his third of the season. Lee complemented his scoring with 11 assists and six rebounds, showcasing his versatility, as this game added to his previous triple-double and first double-double of the season.

Leading the way for Rutgers was Harper, who continues to shine as he averaged 23.4 points per game this season, finishing with 22 points. Freshman Ace Bailey had a notable performance of his own, contributing 15 points and 12 rebounds for his fourth double-double. Additionally, Jordan Derkack came off the bench to add 10 points and five rebounds.

The opening half was tightly contested, with Rutgers taking a slim halftime lead of 46-44, largely thanks to Harper’s 17 points. Princeton built a maximum lead of four, while Rutgers managed to lead by five on two separate occasions in a tightly contested first half.

With this victory, Princeton has now defeated Rutgers consecutively and holds a commanding lead in the all-time series with a record of 77-45. Prior to this match, Rutgers had won 11 out of the last 15 encounters. Looking ahead, Rutgers will be taking a break until they host Columbia on December 30, while Princeton will also await their next game against Akron on the same date.