Princeton Stops Columbia, Clinches an NCAA Berth

Sean Jackson made two three-point baskets in the final 2:12 of the first half to wake up No. 23 Princeton, and the Tigers clinched the Ivy League title and an NCAA tournament berth by beating Columbia, 56-33, Friday night.

The victory was the 11th in a row for Princeton (19-2, 10-0) and 24th in a row at Jadwin Gymnasium. The Tigers clinched their third consecutive Ivy title and the first spot in this year’s NCAA tournament when Harvard lost to Yale, 86-64, Friday night.

Jackson has 74 career baskets from three-point range, breaking Matt Lapin’s school record.

Princeton seemed to take control early as Jackson made a pair of three-point shots to help the Tigers build a 13-4 lead a little less than eight minutes into the game.

However, Princeton went cold for the next eight minutes and Columbia (7-16, 5-6) responded with a 10-2 run and drew within 15-14 when Buck Jenkins made a seven-footer for his third consecutive basket.

Jackson, who scored all of his points in the first half, then set Kit Mueller up for a layup that sparked an 11-2 spurt to close the half as Princeton took a 26-16 lead.