(MENAFN) In a shocking upset, No. 15 seeded Princeton defeated No. 7 seed Missouri 78-63 on Saturday to reach the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 for the first time in 56 years. Blake Peters made five 3-pointers in the second half to lead Princeton to a dominating performance against the Southeastern Conference team. The Princeton fans chanted "Sweet 16! Sweet 16!" as the final minute ticked off the clock, and coach Mitch Henderson cleared the bench with the victory easily in hand.
This was no small-school fluke against a more heralded team. Princeton followed up a first-round win over Pac-12 tournament champion Arizona by overwhelming Missouri from the start. The Ivy League school, known for giving powerhouses scares and occasionally pulling off upsets a generation ago, reached the round of 16 for the first time since 1967, when only 23 teams even made the tournament.
Princeton will play the winner of Sunday's game between Baylor and Creighton in the Sweet 16 in Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday night. The Tigers will be the second Ivy League school to make the Sweet 16 in the past 43 tournaments, joining Cornell in 2010. No team from the academically prestigious league that doesn't give athletic scholarships has gone further since Penn made the Final Four in 1979.
The victory was a testament to Princeton's confidence in one another and their ability to perform on the big stage. "The world looks at us as two upsets," said forward Tosan Evbuomwan. "But I feel like we're supposed to be here. There's definitely no letup with this group."
Ryan Langborg led Princeton with 22 points and Peters added 17. DeAndre Gholston scored 19 points and Noah Carter added 14 for Missouri, which was seeking its first berth in the Sweet 16 since 2009.
Princeton showed no signs of being outclassed against another power conference team, controlling the play from the start. Despite Missouri's attempts to rally early in the second half, Princeton had an answer with Peters hitting five 3-pointers. The fourth gave Princeton a 62-43 lead, and Missouri never threatened after that.
This marks the third straight year a team seeded 15th made it to the Sweet 16, following Oral Roberts in 2021 and fellow New Jersey school Saint Peter's last year. The only other time a 15 seed made it this far came in 2013 when Florida Gulf Coast did it. The victory was a historic moment for Princeton, a team that has always dreamed of playing deep into the tournament. "As a player, got to the second round a couple times. Never got beyond it," said coach Henderson.
The victory was also a reminder of the importance of confidence and teamwork in achieving success. Peters credited his teammates and their belief in one another for their historic win. "When we go out and believe in each other, anything is possible," he said.
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