For Princeton, 21 Is a Loser’s Hand

In the lowest-scoring Division I game since the introduction of the three-point line, Monmouth defeated Princeton, 41-21, Wednesday night at Princeton, N.J.

Princeton tied the record for fewest points in a Division I game since the three-point line started in 1986-87. Georgia Southern also finished with 21 in a 40-point loss to Coastal Carolina on Jan. 2, 1997.

“Obviously, we just couldn’t score,” Princeton Coach Joe Scott said. “The zone gave us tons of problems.”

The previous record for fewest combined points since 1986-87 was 67, which happened twice. Southern Methodist beat Texas Arlington, 36-31, on Dec. 16, 1989, and Wisconsin Green Bay defeated Northern Michigan, 46-21, on Nov. 22, 1996.

Princeton’s previous scoring low in the era of the three-point line was 35 points.

Princeton (2-5), which made nine of 41 shots including two of 20 three-pointers, went scoreless for a 14:54 stretch in the second half after going 7:14 without a point in the first half.

Monmouth is 2-7.

No. 21 North Carolina State 86, North Carolina Asheville 56 -- Ilian Evtimov scored 19 points to lead the Wolfpack (7-1) over the Bulldogs (1-5) at Raleigh, N.C.

Cameron Bennerman and Gavin Grant each had 14 in a balanced effort for N.C. State, which had six players score in double figures and had no trouble staying unbeaten in the series, improving to 16-0 against Asheville.

Joe Barber scored 15 points for Asheville.

WOMEN

Mississippi 67, No. 7 Rutgers 57 -- Armintie Price and Ashley Johnson each scored 22 points to help the Rebels (7-1) upset the Scarlet Knights (8-1) at Oxford, Miss.

Mississippi beat a ranked team at home for the second time this season. The Rebels beat then-No. 14 Texas Tech, 72-69, last month and have won four straight since a loss to Villanova.

NOTES

Arizona senior guard Hassan Adams, the leading scorer for the No. 24 Wildcats, will be in the starting lineup Saturday at Utah despite being arrested last weekend and cited for disturbing the peace.... Karen Holbrook, president of Ohio State, testified that the school had grounds to fire Coach Jim O’Brien because he admitted violating NCAA rules by lending a potential recruit $6,000. O’Brien has filed a lawsuit that asks for $3.5 million in back pay and benefits for being improperly dismissed in June 2004.... Ohio State and Cincinnati will play each other next season for the first time since the 1962 NCAA men’s championship game. The Dec. 16, 2006 game, part of the John R. Wooden Tradition at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, will be the first between the teams in the regular season since 1921.