National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Princeton 68, Rutgers 61
When: 7:00 PM ET, Monday, November 6, 2023
Where: CURE Insurance Arena, Trenton, New Jersey
Officials: # Brandon Cruz, # Julian Scott, # Mike Evans
Attendance: 6103

Matt Allocco poured in 21 points and Princeton topped Rutgers 68-61 in the season opener Monday in Trenton, N.J.

Allocco made 9 of his 13 field-goal attempts and the Tigers, who went to the Sweet 16 in March, defeated another power-conference foe by making 9 of 20 from 3-point range and outrebounding the Scarlet Knights 39-35.

Xaivian Lee scored 18 points for Princeton in his first collegiate start, Zach Martini added 10 points and Caden Pierce had 15 rebounds -- six on the offensive end. Allocco added nine boards.

Clifford Omoruyi had 12 points and seven rebounds for Rutgers (0-1). Antwone Woolfolk and Noah Fernandes each added 10.

It was the in-state rivals' first meeting since December 2013, held on a neutral court in the state capital.

Rutgers fell behind 12-4 and responded by replacing Omoruyi down low with Woolfolk. Woolfolk tied the game at 14 on a steal near the top of the key and a fast-break dunk. Omoruyi joined the fray by lofting an alley-oop that Woolfolk dunked to make it 16-16.

Allocco started scoring in the paint and helped Princeton finish the half on a 7-0 run. He beat the buzzer with a mid-range jumper to put the Tigers up 32-28 at halftime, and led all scorers at the break with 13.

Lee made a 3-pointer and Peters followed with two in the first three minutes of the second half to put the Tigers up nine.

Fernandes scored a quick four as Rutgers rallied to tie the game at 45. Princeton then launched a 12-2 run. Martini canned two open triples, and Lee's basket gave the Tigers their largest lead at 57-47.

The Scarlet Knights made one last push with eight straight points -- Austin Williams nailed a 3-pointer and Fernandes made three free throws. But Lee made back-to-back layups for a 61-55 lead with 3:44 left, and the Tigers iced it on Allocco's pull-up with 46 seconds left.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Princeton   Rutgers
Matt Allocco 21 Scoring Clifford Omoruyi 12
Xaivian Lee 5 Assists Jamichael Davis 3
Caden Pierce 15 Rebounds Jamichael Davis 7
Xaivian Lee 3 Free Throws Made Aundre Hyatt 4
Caden Pierce 2 Steals Oskar Palmquist 3
Matt Allocco 1 Blocks Clifford Omoruyi 4
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Princeton 68 43.3 9-20 7-11 11 34 2 5 12
Rutgers 61 40.3 4-14 7-7 14 34 6 7 9