NEW YORK — On Friday, Princeton clinched a narrow victory over Columbia with a final score of 73-68, significantly aided by Xaivian Lee’s impressive performance, showcasing 21 points.
The Ivy League standings are highly competitive with only two games left in the regular season. After Yale’s victory against Dartmouth on the same evening, a three-way tie has emerged for second place. Currently, Princeton, Cornell, and Dartmouth each hold a 7-5 record in conference games, trailing five games behind the undefeated Yale. The closing phase of the regular season will determine which top four teams will advance to the conference tournament.
In the game, Lee not only led in points but also contributed nine rebounds and dished out five assists for the Tigers, showcasing his all-around skills. Blake Peters also played a pivotal role, scoring 18 points while shooting 6 of 13, which included an impressive 5 of 10 from three-point range, along with securing six rebounds. Meanwhile, Caden Pierce contributed 14 points, going 4 of 13 from the field and maintaining perfection from the free-throw line with 6 of 6.
For Columbia, Zine Eddine Bedri topped the scoring chart, putting up 16 points. Supporting him was Avery Brown, who added another 12 points to the Lions’ tally, while Kenny Noland also made his presence felt by scoring 12 points and providing defensive support with two steals.
The road ahead features important matches as Princeton prepares to face Cornell in an away game this Sunday. On the other hand, Columbia is set to host Pennsylvania on Saturday, as both teams aim to strengthen their positions in the league standings.
