Princeton didn’t win this at the start — it won it at the finish.

In a game deadlocked 34-34 at halftime, the Tigers erupted for 46 points after the break and pulled away from Columbia for an 80-68 road win on January 31, 2026. The result moves Princeton to 9-14 and drops Columbia to 14-8, extending a skid that now reads four losses in the Lions’ last five.

How it swung

The first half played to a standstill. Both teams landed on 34 points by the break, setting up a possession-by-possession second half.

Then Princeton found separation with shot-making and pace. The Tigers’ 46-point second half dwarfed Columbia’s 34, turning a tie game into a 12-point final margin. When a team matches you for 20 minutes and then wins the next 20 by 12, the story is clear: Princeton owned the game’s decisive stretch.

Second-half avalanche

Princeton’s offense jumped a level coming out of halftime. The Tigers scored 80 total points — 46 in the second half alone — and consistently kept Columbia from stringing together the kind of stops needed to regain control.

Columbia, by contrast, stayed at its first-half scoring pace. The Lions scored 34 before the break and 34 after it, but the math didn’t work once Princeton’s efficiency and volume spiked late.

What it means going forward

For Princeton, the win is a tangible momentum play. The Tigers arrived with an 8-14 record and a WLWLL recent form line, and they leave with a result that can stabilize a season by proving they can close a tight game with authority.

For Columbia, the concern isn’t the start — it’s the inability to absorb a second-half run. The Lions entered at 14-7 with LWWLL form; after this 80-68 loss, they’ll need a cleaner second-half plan to avoid letting even games tip into runaway finishes.

Final

Princeton 80, Columbia 68 (Halftime: 34-34)