NEW YORK — In a night of statistical milestones, Penn men’s basketball did not let the most important figure escape it: the win.
On Friday, the Quakers defeated Columbia 92-87 amid a slew of historic accomplishments. Sophomore guard Sam Brown hung 42 points on the Lions (12-14, 1-12 Ivy) for the highest single-game point total by a Quaker since Hassan Duncombe in 1989, while senior forward Nick Spinoso surpassed 1,000 points for his collegiate career. Amid the accomplishments, the Quakers (8-18, 4-9) buckled down to pull out a nail-biting victory, converting their free throws down the stretch and playing timely defense to emerge with the win.
“I don’t think it’s fully hit me yet,” Brown said, while also crediting the play of his teammates. “I think it’s just a testament to all the work that I’ve put in. I had, to quote some news writer, a ‘cataclysmic’ non-conference [season], and I think I’m proud of the internal resilience that I think I’ve shown.”
“It’s always great to do it when you have a great group of guys around you,” Spinoso said of his mark. “We’re a team that’s focused on winning — we wanna play hard, we wanna play the right way. But I’m glad we had two good things happen in a hard-fought game.”
Though Penn has already been eliminated from Ivy Madness contention, the Quakers entered the matchup seeking a sweep of the last-place Lions. In Penn’s last matchup with Columbia, the Quakers surged to a win behind their 18 three-pointers, a program record against a Division I opponent. The Red and Blue looked just as comfortable at Francis S. Levien Gymnasium, piercing Columbia’s conference-worst defensive front for eight three-pointers in the first half.
Brown, whose previous career high of 30 points came against Columbia earlier this season, scored effectively at all three levels, including a number of mid-range jumpers. While coach Steve Donahue’s scheme does not always favor the mid-range shot, Brown said it has been critical to his growth as a player.
“I played under Clark Slajchert last year. … I think I’ve taken some of what he’s done,” Brown said. “I want to be a professional basketball player, and I know that I’m going to have to grow my game. Even though I’m not necessarily an above-the-rim player, I try to find ways to score outside from that.”
“Sam in the preseason wasn’t sure if he should or shouldn’t do [the mid-range shot],” Donahue said. “Now, he’s playing like if he has a shot, he takes it. … The most important thing we want kids to do is play with confidence. So if that’s what’s gonna make him confident, that’s a positive.”
Spinoso’s moment came in the early moments of the second half. Just over a minute into the period, Brown found Spinoso wide open on the block, and the longtime Penn big man finished the play with a layup to put Penn ahead 51-39, giving him 14 points in the game and 1,000 for his Quakers career. He is the 35th player in program history to surpass the millennium mark.
While the milestone was met with little pomp in Levien Gymnasium, Spinoso cherished the chance to hit the mark in his native state of New York.
“This is home to me,” Spinoso said. “I’m from New York, I have so many people here who I’m so happy and excited to go see. … It was great to do it here.”
In the end, it was the hot-hand playing hero for the Quakers. After Columbia battled back to tie the game with 18 seconds to go, Brown sank two free throws to give Penn a 90-87 lead. Then, a three-point attempt from Columbia guard Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa that could have tied the game rattled off the rim, securing the win for Penn.
Penn will play its final game of the season next weekend, going on the road to battle rival Princeton on March 8. In the final career game for the Quakers’ senior class, the goal is rather simple.
“I’ve never beaten Princeton,” Spinoso said. “That’s all it is.”
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