Penn Storms Past Dartmouth On TJ Power’s Career Night

PHILADELPHIA— The University of Pennsylvania Quakers authored a double digit comeback on Friday, Feb. 27, winning 80-71 behind a career high 38 points from junior forward TJ Power. Power made 14 0f 22 shots (6-of-8 from three) and dropped 22 points in the second half, obliterating his previous career high (29 scored against La Salle). He added 12 rebounds and played all but 15 seconds.

Penn (14-11, 7-5 Ivy League) strengthened their hold on the No. 3 spot in the Ivy League as they look to end a three-year drought in the conference tournament. Dartmouth gashed the Quakers from beyond the arc in the first half, making six of 11 three-point shots; sophomore guard Cameron McNamee made his first four attempts from three, beginning a 9-0 run that put the Big Green up 26-14. Power made consecutive threes to cut into the lead, but McNamee came up with the answer each time Penn threatened.

Penn Turns It Around

Dartmouth seemed prepared to continue their onslaught in the second half when senior Jayden Williams drained a three on the opening possession, but the Quakers buckled down to allow just two of 12 attempts the rest of the way. Penn allowed just one shot from the field over the next four minutes, capping a 9-2 run with a pair of Power threes that made it 47-43.

Power then came up with the tying score on three straight possessions; Niko Abusara put the Big Green up 59-56 with an and-one layup with ten minutes to play, but the Quakers allowed just one shot from the field over the next nine minutes. Dartmouth was in the double bonus, allowing them to stay in reach. A Dalton Scantlebury layup put them in front 63-61, and the Quakers never trailed again.

Up next, Penn will host Harvard at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28 in their home finale.