SAN JOSE, CALIF. — No. 6-ranked Princeton University dunked No. 14 California Baptist University, 14-11, on the second day of the 2026 Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament.
Competing at San Jose State University, the Tigers stayed in front of the Lancers until Cal Baptist acquired an 11-10 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Princeton responded with a strong defensive effort over the final eight minutes by holding the Lancers scoreless, while Kristóf Kovács recorded seven saves. The Tigers added four goals of their own to turn the tide and garner a three score victory.
Enrique Nuño (four), Tas Palcza (two), Otto Stothart (two), Tibi Cojocariu (two), Taylor Bell, Ádám Peocz, Gavin Appeldorn and William Swart combined for Princeton’s offensive output to support an 11 save performance by Kovács.
The Tigers jumped on the scoreboard first as Nuño dented the twine 42 seconds into the game with 7:18 left on the first quarter clock. Luca Imbriolo answered for the Lancers at 6:52, but Palcza rifled in a shot at 5:38 to put Princeton back in front at 2-1. Andrea Nuzzo balanced the scoreboard at two-all (4:25) prior to Bell clanging a shot into the cage at 1:51 to regain a one-score lead for Princeton at 3-2.
In the second quarter, Whitley Beamon (7:02) and Stothart (5:36, man-up) exchanged goals to erase and return the defending Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) Champions’ lead. The back-and-forth exchanges continued as Nuño (4:54, penalty shot) and Rafa Martinez (4:42) notched strikes prior to Zander Montoya (3:54) squaring the squads at five-all.
Cojocariu (2:53) placed Princeton back in front at 6-5 and Wyatt Bugbee buzzed in a shot at 2:21 make it six-all before Peocz (1:46, man-up) and Bugbee (1:30) delivered to keep the teams deadlocked at seven-all. Nuño had the last word in the first half as he spun a ball into the cage with 29 seconds remaining in the second quarter to push Princeton back in front once more at 8-7.
Appeldorn expanded the lead to two goals 30 seconds into the third quarter as the Tigers took a 9-7 scoreboard advantage. Paulo Hernandez (5:09) and Nuzzo (4:24) eradicated CBU’s deficit as the Lancers pulled even at nine-all.
Swart (3:04, man-up) and Martinez (2:59) continued the pattern of Princeton score-Cal Baptist response as the duo delivered for the Tigers and Lancers to maintain balance at 10-all.
Collin White provided Cal Baptist with a first in the game – the lead – as he lined a ball into the cage with 1:56 to go in the third quarter for an 11-10 lead at the conclusion of the frame.
The goal caused Princeton to bare its claws in the fourth quarter as Cojocariu (6:46), Nuño (5:59), Palcza (2:34) and Stothart (1:59) clawed through the Lancers’ defense and Kovács flustered the California Baptist shooters as the Tigers showed their stripes in rallying back for a victory.
