Princeton stunned the No. 2 seed Arizona in sacramento California on Thursday, knocking off the defending Pac-12 tournament champions in the first round of March Madness.

The Tigers, who trailed for most of the second half, ended the game on a 9-0 run as Arizona couldn’t get the offense going late.

A former Leeds manager was among the jubilant Princeton fans in the crowd Jesse Marsh – who played at the school for four seasons and also served as an assistant coach.

The former Red Bulls and RB Leipzig manager, who was sacked by Leeds on February 6, can be seen pumping his fist as the Tigers close in on victory in the final seconds of the game. Marsh left the club with him just above the relegation zone on goal difference.

In addition to playing and coaching Marsh at the school, Princeton basketball coach Mitch Henderson, also an alumnus of the school, has been described as one of Marsh’s best friends. Princeton Alumni Weekly.

Jesse Marsh was seen in Sacramento loving Princeton’s upset of Arizona

Ryan Langborg gave Princeton its first lead with 2:03 left as the Tigers won their first NCAA Tournament game in 25 years.

In fact, the last time Princeton won the NCAA Tournament, current coach Mitch Henderson was a player on the team.

The 15th-seeded Tigers (22-9) held the Pac-12 Tournament champion scoreless in the final 4:43, with Toson Eubuomwan scoring 15 points.

Princeton will play seventh-seeded Missouri in the second round of the South Region. The Tigers beat Utah State 76-65.

Meanwhile, Azouolas Tubelis scored 21 points for the Wildcats (28-7), who haven’t won a tournament in back-to-back years since 2014-15.

Courtney Ramey, who hit the game-winning shot in the Pac-12 Tournament, missed a contested 3-pointer with 14 seconds left that could have tied the game. Kerr Kriisa also missed from long range off an offensive rebound, leading Princeton to start the celebration.

It was the third straight year and 11th time overall that a No. 15 seed won a first-round game. Arizona is the only school to fall on the wrong side of one of those upsets twice, also losing to Steve Nash and Santa Clara in 1993.

Matt Aloka #14 of the Princeton Tigers hits the ball with Kerr Kriisa #25

Jesse Marsh lasted less than a year at Leeds after joining the club in February 2022