Dartmouth Falls Short at Princeton in Overtime, 93-90

Saturday, January 21

Princeton, N.J. / Jadwin Gymnasium

2:00 PM

Dartmouth College

7-13,3-3Ivy League

Princeton

14-5,5-1Ivy League

OT 1

Dartmouth

Princeton

Photo by: Justin Lafleur

Dartmouth Falls Short at Princeton in Overtime, 93-90

1/21/2023 7:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Highlights

The Big Green remain in a tie for third place in the Ivy League standings

By: Justin Lafleur

PRINCETON, N.J. — Sophomore Ryan Cornish, junior Dusan Neskovic and freshman Brandon Mitchell-Day combined for 72 of Dartmouth's 90 points, but it wasn't enough as the Big Green fell just short at Princeton on Saturday afternoon, 93-90 in overtime. Cornish led the way with a career-high 31 points while Neskovic added 24 to tie a career high and Mitchell-Day posted 17. A Mitchell-Day 3-pointer put Dartmouth ahead, 76-71 with less than two minutes remaining, but the Tigers rallied to force overtime — where they were victorious.

With the loss, the Big Green fall to 7-13 and 3-3 in Ivy League play. Princeton improves to 14-5 and 5-1.

"It's a tough loss because we were in a position to win the game," said Dartmouth head coach David McLaughlin. "Credit to Princeton, who made some plays down the end to secure overtime and get the victory. It's frustrating; the guys are frustrated when you put yourself in a position to win and you just can't close it out. No one's at fault for that. It's just something we have to learn, and we have to get better at. We will, and I will."

Cornish's 31 points came on 12-of-22 shooting, including 3-of-7 from 3-point range. He became the first Big Green player to eclipse 30 points in more than four years, since Brendan Barry had 31 on Dec. 13, 2018 vs. Boston University.

Eighteen of Neskovic's 24 points came after halftime. It marked the third game this season (and of his career) with 24+ points. Meanwhile, the reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Week, Mitchell-Day finished 6-of-13 from the floor, including a career-high three made 3-pointers (on six attempts).

Junior Izaiah Robinson continued his strong play as of late, finishing with eight points, including 2-of-4 shooting from 3-point range. Robinson opened and closed the scoring on Saturday with threes.

Reigning Ivy League Player of the Year Tosan Evbuomwan led Princeton with 20 points while Keeshawn Kellman added 18, including a number of big baskets down the stretch.

Dartmouth jumped out to early leads of 7-2, 14-6 and later 17-8. With the Big Green leading 7-6, they reeled off seven straight points and nine of the next 11. Mitchell-Day played a big role in the run, which included one stretch of seven consecutive Dartmouth points over the span of 2:37. His first 3-pointer of the game gave the Big Green that 17-8 lead with 11:28 on the first-half clock.

Princeton immediately responded with a 15-2 run, capped off by a Matt Allocco layup to give the Tigers a 23-19 advantage with 7:41 left in the first half.

A few minutes later, Cornish single-handedly put the Big Green back in front, knocking down a 3-pointer then coming up with a steal and dunk, all in the span of 31 seconds. The dunk gave Dartmouth a 30-28 lead with 4:54 on the clock.

4:55 1st | It's been the Ryan Cornish show! One clip, two highlights. A 3 and SLAM! He's up to 14 and the Big Green are back in front, 30-28.

📺: @ESPNPlus: https://t.co/hBLcUnzXQK
📊: https://t.co/Fd1tkv6F3r #TheWoods🌲| #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/kcvs9f0pKf
— Dartmouth Men's Basketball (@DartmouthMBB) January 21, 2023

The ensuing minutes saw five ties, but the lead wouldn't change back to Princeton until 1:18 left in the half. The Tigers' lead swelled to five, but a Cornish layup in the final seconds pulled Dartmouth within 43-40 at the half.

The Tigers opened the second-half scoring, but the Big Green answered with a 14-2 run, capped off by a highlight-reel and-one dunk from senior Dame Adelekun to put Dartmouth in front, 54-47.

Another look at Dame's #SCTop10 worthy slam! #TheWoods🌲 | #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/sb3NCcdnbO
— Dartmouth Men's Basketball (@DartmouthMBB) January 21, 2023

The Big Green led for much of the ensuing minutes, but couldn't extend the margin beyond seven.

8:51 2nd | Dartmouth currently leads 63-60. What an alley-oop here finished by Cam Krystkowiak!

📺: @ESPNPlus
: https://t.co/hBLcUnzXQK
📊: https://t.co/Fd1tkv6F3r #TheWoods🌲| #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/IdqvlXHESf
— Dartmouth Men's Basketball (@DartmouthMBB) January 21, 2023

A 6-0 Tigers' run, all coming from the free throw line, put them back in front, 64-63 with 8:29 on the clock. Cornish immediately answered with a 3-pointer, and had a pull up jumper less than a minute later to put Dartmouth in front again, 68-66.

The following minutes either saw a tie or a Dartmouth lead, but the Big Green couldn't extend it beyond three until a Mitchell-Day 3-pointer made it 76-71 with exactly two minutes left in regulation. But from that point forward, Dartmouth struggled to score. Turnovers down the stretch, including two in the final 19 seconds, hurt. Evbuomwan knocked down 1-of-2 free throws with four seconds remaining to force overtime.

Despite Princeton scoring on three straight possessions, two Neskovic free throws put the Big Green ahead, 82-81, with 2:25 left in overtime. Less than a minute later, a Neskovic 3-pointer evened the score at 85 with 1:13 remaining.

But on the next possession, a Kellman layup put Princeton ahead, 87-85, giving the Tigers a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

For the game, Dartmouth shot 51.5 percent from the floor (34-of-66), including 38.5 percent from 3-point range (10-of-26). Princeton finished at 49.2 percent (30-of-61) and 31.8 percent from behind the arc (7-of-22). The Tigers were 26-of-34 (76.5 percent) from the throw line compared to Dartmouth's 12-of-16 (75.0 percent). Princeton finished with a 40-29 edge in rebounds.

"This is a tough place to play," said McLaughlin. "It's a great team, terrific program, and I thought our guys came and fought in the first half. We challenged them to be a little tougher in the second half and they certainly came out and were tougher.

"For the way they played, I wish they got the win," McLaughlin continued. "But we just have to get back and roll up our sleeves for Monday."

The Big Green are set to return home for four straight games, beginning next Saturday when they host Columbia. The game will be part of Alumni Weekend, and Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Week. Opening tipoff is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.

We caught up with head coach David McLaughlin following today's hard-fought overtime defeat at Princeton.#TheWoods🌲 | #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/gnvLa24XD0
— Dartmouth Men's Basketball (@DartmouthMBB) January 21, 2023

Ryan Cornish (@rcornish21) not only had a career-high 31 points today, but he also had four assists, including one from the ground 👀#TheWoods🌲| #GoBigGreen | #SCTop10 | @ESPNAssignDesk pic.twitter.com/CrOmOI2jN8
— Dartmouth Men's Basketball (@DartmouthMBB) January 21, 2023