Power of winning on full display as TJ’s 38 lead Penn past Dartmouth

TJ Power’s 38 points and 12 rebounds were Penn’s heartbeat Friday as Quakers defeated Dartmouth to inch closer to clinching Ivy Madness berth. (Photo by Penn Men’s Basketball)

By Jake Copestick (@JakeCopestick)

PHILADELPHIA — A career night from TJ Power put Penn on the doorstep of Ivy Madness.

The Virginia transfer put the team on his back, pouring in 38 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. On a night where the rest of Penn’s usual suspects didn’t shoot the ball well, Power willed his team to a massive victory, as the Quakers came from behind to beat Dartmouth, 80-71.

Power’s explosion was the fifth-best individual scoring performance in the history of a tremendously storied program, while showing off his entire scoring package. 

Although the junior forward put on a dazzling performance, a game like this no surprise to head coach Fran McCaffery. He’s seen Power do this firsthand for years, dating back to his sophomore year of high school. McCaffery never recruited a player harder than he did Power. Even after seldom playing at both Duke and Virginia, McCaffery never gave up on him, having missed out twice before. He knew exactly what he had in Power, a seamless fit for his fast-paced offense, capable of lighting up the scoreboard as he did at The Palestra Friday night.

“He’s the real deal, but I knew that already,” McCaffery said. “Now everybody else knows. I thought he was a great fit for our system. His versatility was on display, and that’s what I wanted for him.”

“We’re going to play fast, we’re going to run. He can get it off the glass and bring it himself, we can iso him at the elbow, we can clear a side for him, we can post him up. He's got the ultimate green light.”

The player McCaffery saw as a young high schooler is now on display at the college level. Dartmouth did not have an answer for Power, who scored at every level, in every way. His second basket of the game was a thunderous left-handed dunk. He knocked down a career high six three-point shots, accounting for six of the eight made triples for Penn Friday. When he backed down a defender, he shot over them or made a nifty finish around them in the paint. He could not be stopped. 

Power’s first two years in college were not easy. He’ll be the first to tell you that. But with McCaffery’s unwavering confidence in him, through good times and bad, he is thriving at Penn.

“I had to learn a lot in those two years and do some soul searching,” Power said. “I feel prepared. When losing a game this year, I’ve been lower than that. I’m ready to bounce back.”

“Coach has been great for me. It’s one thing to say words to a player and say you believe in them, but when you actually show it through actions and let them get through mistakes, that’s like a superpower out there. I’m taking full advantage of that.”

Power nearly went the distance, playing almost every second of Friday night’s win. His 22 second-half points nearly outpaced Dartmouth, who had 29 points after halftime as a team. Factor in Penn trailing by as many as 12 points, and the rest of the Quakers’ supporting cast having an uncharacteristically bad shooting night, and Power’s performance was that much more special.

Ethan Roberts scored just eight points and took six shots on Friday night. Michael Zanoni was 3-for-11 from the field, but used a pair of late free throws to join Power as the only other Quaker in double figures, with 10 points. Point guard AJ Levine, who has been a catalyst for the Quakers in recent weeks, scored just four points in 15 minutes, a night that was derailed partly due to foul trouble. Power willed his team to a crucial win, one that has them an arm’s length from playing in the Ancient Eight’s postseason. 

“We have a lot of other weapons, and some of those guys were a little off with their shooting,” McCaffery said. “When we played (at Dartmouth), Ethan had 25 points, but he was a little bit off tonight. Michael was a little bit off tonight. What was incredible tonight was how (Power) carried us.”

Although the quick turnarounds of the Ivy League schedule don’t allow Penn any time to relish Friday’s win, playing in Ivy Madness for the chance to go to the NCAA Tournament is everything Power and the rest of the team have been striving for since the group first convened in the summer. That’s nearly a reality for them now. A win against Harvard on Saturday can punch the Quakers’ ticket to Ithaca.

“It’s everything. I want to win really bad here,” said Power. “I want to go to both tournaments, Ivy Madness and March Madness. I think in the moment, you’re trying to win the game so bad. When you’re on the cusp like that, a belief can come about your team. In our locker room, everyone’s really believing in our team.”