A blowout, a nail-biter and a historic sweep are the results of the Big Green's exhausting New York road-trip over the weekend.
However, the best result of the 82-47 thrashing of Columbia and the 65-62 squeaker over Cornell is the excitement and opportunity that it sets up for this weekend's clash in Leede Arena when league-leader Princeton and rival Pennsylvania come to Hanover.
Although the sweep was Dartmouth's seventh on the New York road trip, it marks the first time since the beginning of Ivy League play in 1956 that the Big Green has completed the sweep when opening against Columbia on the first night.
Furthermore, it raised the squad's record to 16-6, equaling last year's win total with still four games remaining on the season, keeping alive the possibility of a 20-win campaign.
The Big Green used a near flawless performance to slay the Lions 82-47 in New York Friday night.
The 35 point margin of victory was Dartmouth's largest of the season and marked Columbia's worse Ivy League loss of the season.
The final score was of little importance though as the Big Green put away the Lions early with a tremendous opening half.
After trading baskets for the first four minutes of the game, Dartmouth decided they had enough with toying with the last-place Lions.
In the next few minutes, the Big Green went on a 28-2 run that included two slam dunks by forwards Keith Stanton '97 and Shaun Gee '00.
The run, along with a scorching 65.5 shooting percentage, gave Dartmouth a commanding 38-8 lead and led to a 45-19 margin at halftime. The lead was extended to as many as 39 in the second half.
The Big Green was led by guard Sea Lonergan '97 who had a game-high 17 points.
Perhaps the most impressive performances came from the freshmen big men Gee and Ryan Smerek '00. Gee had nine points on four of four shooting while Smerek was a perfect three for three and grabbed two rebounds.
"We didn't do much wrong tonight, I thought we really looked like a team in sync," Head Coach Dave Faucher said.
While Cornell was not as gracious a host as Columbia, Dartmouth was pleased with their visit to Ithaca as they completed the two game sweep and their four game road trip with a 3-1 record by holding off the Big Red, 65-62 on Saturday.
After trailing for most of the first half, the Big Green took advantage of a golden opportunity handed to them by Cornell's lack of composure.
With just over three minutes left, the Big Red fouled Dartmouth center Brian Gilpin '97. At the same time, Cornell forward and probable Ivy League player-of-the-year John McCord was whistled for a technical foul for arguing with Big Green guard PJ Halas '98.
Both players converted on both of their free throws and point guard Kenny Mitchell hit a three pointer on the resulting possession to give the Big Green a seven-point play and a two point lead.
Leading 29-26 at the break, Dartmouth pushed the lead to 41-31 in the second half before Cornell would muster a rally.
Behind the strong play of McCord, who finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds, the Big Red responded with a 10-0 run to even the score at 46-46 with nine minutes remaining in the contest.
Dartmouth refused to buckle though and managed to resurrect a seven point lead as the clock ticked down to the two-minute mark.
As has been the case with most of Dartmouth's victories this year and unlike the previous night in Columbia, the final two minutes would be a close call for the Big Green.
A McCord hook shot and two Cornell free throws would cut the lead to 61-58 with 58 seconds remaining.
Halas and McCord then traded free throws before the Big Red sent junior Asa Palmer '98 to the line with 35 seconds left.
Palmer, in the game because Gilpin had fouled out three minutes before, stepped up to the line and preceded to airball his first attempt before converting on the second foul shot to give Dartmouth a 64-60 lead.
McCord was able to respond with a lay-up but not until the clock had ticked down to six seconds.
The Big Red then fouled Mitchell who hit one of two to restore the three point lead but still failing to make the game more than a one-possession affair.
However, the Big Red's Alex Compton couldn't get off a good shot and his desperate attempt to send the game to overtime bounced off the back rim and sealed the important victory.
"We were definitely not at the top of our game," admitted Halas. "But we made our shots when we had to. I think it was a gutsy performance."
The sweep kept Dartmouth two games behind pace-setting Princeton, who have a perfect 9-0 mark in the Ivies, in what has narrowed to a two-team race to the finish.
To stay alive in the title hunt, the Big Green must win the rest of their games, including next Saturday's clash with the Tigers, and hope the Tigers falter somewhere else in their remaining five games.
