Scarlet Knights pull away for 70-62 win
By: Bob Nuse
PISCATAWAY Prior to Saturday night’s game at Rutgers, freshman Mike Stephens had played all of seven minutes of basketball for Princeton University.
But with starting center Konrad Wysocki out with an injury, and backup Dominick Martin picking up two quick fouls, Stephens found himself on the court just three minutes into the Tigers’ battle with their Big East foe.
Martin played 17 productive minutes in the first half, helping the Tigers stay even with Rutgers. But in the second half, the Scarlet Knights used a 17-0 run to bolt out to a 41-27 lead on their way to an eventual 70-62 win.
The loss dropped Princeton to 3-7 on the season. The Tigers have one more non-league game on the schedule at home Saturday night against Holy Cross before they open play in the Ivy League.
Stephens’ solid play at center gives Princeton coach John Thompson yet another option in what is becoming a very deep bench. The freshman from Napa, Calif., was one of eight Tigers to play at least 16 minutes on Saturday, with centers Martin and Judson Wallace also seeing considerable time.
"Mike gave us some decent minutes tonight," said Thompson, whose team led 27-24 before Rutgers went on a 22-2 run to take a 46-29 lead midway through the second half. "This is the type of team that we’re going to be, where different guys are going to have to come in and give us decent minutes depending upon the situation and the opponent.
"Against this team I felt more comfortable going with Mike than with Chris Krug. The other night against Lafayette I felt more comfortable with Chris. It depends a lot on who we’re playing. It will be different guys on different nights."
Saturday was Stephens’ first shot at extended minutes. Prior to his 19-minute stint against the Scarlet Knights, he had played one minute against California, five against St. Joseph’s and one against Kansas. When his chance came this time, he felt ready to contribute.
"I was kind of nervous when I first got into the game," said Stephens, who finished with three points, two rebounds and two assists. "I had never seen anyone as big as Rashod Kent (6-foot-6, 275 pounds). They were a big team. But I got my first shot to go down and that helped me ease into it. I thought my teammates really helped me get into the flow.
"We knew they had a size advantage, not so much in height, but in body size. We needed some size and strength in the key and with Konrad out, I knew I might get some playing time."
Like the rest of his teammates waiting for their chance, Stephens has come to practice every day knowing if he keeps working hard, his opportunity would eventually come.
"When I get my chance I’ll go in and play hard and do the best I can," said Stephens, whose only previous two points came late in the Tigers’ loss to Kansas. "If I’m not in there, I’ll be on the bench cheering my teammates on as hard as I can.
"I think it makes it a lot easier knowing that you can go in there and contribute. And it makes it easier for the coaches to know that they can call on different players depending on what the situation is."
With Wysocki out, Thompson called on Martin as his starter against Rutgers. But within three minutes the freshman had picked up a pair of fouls and the second-year head coach then went to Stephens. In previous games, Krug or Wallace, who saw eight minutes of action in the second half on Saturday, had been used.
"We’re all confident when we get out on the court," Stephens said. "When I got out there tonight I tried to settle in and do whatever I could to help the team win."
Princeton played an even first half and took a 27-24 lead when Mike Bechtold made the first shot of the second half. But Princeton would not score again for nearly eight minutes, by which time Rutgers had run off 17 straight points.
"Things went pretty much the way we thought they would in the first half," Thompson said. "But letting them get 46 points in the second half was way too much. They are very athletic and disciplined on defense. They’re well coached and they got on a nice run there in the second half."
The Tigers trailed 46-29 when they managed to go on a little bit of a run to cut the lead to nine at 56-47. But Rutgers then scored seven straight points to halt any comeback hopes for the Tigers.
Bechtold led Princeton with 16 points, while Ray Robins had 12 and Ed Persia added 10.