Who: Yale (17-5, 8-0) at Princeton (16-5, 6-1)

When: Friday, 7 p.m., Jadwin Gym

TV/ Radio: ESPN3/ WPRB 103.3 FM

Last Time Out: Princeton def. Columiba, 88-83 in overtime; Yale def. Harvard, 67-55.

Series This Year: Yale held off a Princeton comeback in the first meeting, winning, 79-75 in New Haven.


What It Mean: It really doesn't get any bigger than this. Since Yale captured the first meeting, Princeton needs to win or its chances of an Ivy League title are severely damage. A defeat for the Tigers means they would need to win their remaining six league games, while the Bulldogs lose two of their last five. That's highly unlikely. A Princeton victory puts it in position to at least earn a one-game playoff by winning out, if not the title outright if Yale slips up.

Scouting Yale: The Bulldogs are good. Really good. They've won 12 straight and have little trouble running their Ivy record to 8-0. Three players average in double figures led by Plainfield native Justin Sears at 16.5 points per game. Sears also hauls in 6.9 rebounds per contest and is considered the favorite to capture Ivy League Player of the Year. Brandon Sherrod chips in 11.7 points and 7.3 boards and recently set an NCAA record by making 30 consecutive field goals. The Bulldogs clean the glass better than any team in the league, posting a rebound margin of +11.4. The Tigers are second at 4.8, but if Princeton can't keep Yale off the offensive boards (the Bulldogs get 14 per game) second-chance points could decide the game. Sophomore guard Makai Mason had a big game in the first meeting, scoring 22 points, but he's slightly less effective on the road, shooting 41.8 percent as opposed to 48.3 at home.

Scouting Princeton: The Tigers set up this showdown by stealing a road victory in overtime at Columbia. They scored the first basket, then trailed the entire game until Devin Cannady forced overtime with 3.3 seconds remaining thanks to a long 3-pointer. Princeton has been outstanding at home, posting a perfect 8-0 mark and averaging 87.7 points per game. The Tigers are the top scoring team in the Ivy (79.6 ppg) and second in field goal percentage (45.9) to, you guessed it, Yale (47.1). If Princeton is going to win, it will need a better performance from the trio of Spencer Weisz, Steven Cook and Henry Caruso. Those three went a combined 4 for 24 against Columbia. That's unlikely to happen again, especially at home. The X-factor may be point guard Amir Bell, who had a breakout game against Penn. The Tigers will need him to be at his best, attacking the paint and trying to get easy baskets.