SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Mitch Henderson’s victory leap that punctuated Princeton’s famed upset of UCLA in the first round of the 1996 NCAA tournament has become an iconic moment for March Madness in general and the Tigers in particular. There is a picture of the joyous jump at the school’s practice facility that serves as a constant reminder of what’s possible.
Now, though, Henderson’s current players have authored one of their own.
Ryan Langborg lifted Ivy League champion Princeton to its first lead with 2:03 to play and the Tigers used a late run to earn their first NCAA tourney win in 25 years, topping No. 2 seed Arizona 59-55 on Thursday in a South Region opener.
“Pretty surreal feeling,” junior guard Matt Allocco said. “To beat a great team like that on this stage is a pretty special feeling. But also, I can’t say I’m surprised. This team has been so good all year, so gritty. On paper, it’s going to look like a big upset. But we believe in each other and we think we’re a really good team. When we’re at our best, then I think we can beat anybody in the country.”
The 15th-seeded Tigers (22-9) scored the final nine points, holding the Pac-12 tournament champions scoreless over the final 4:43.