Smith, the 2024-25 MaxPreps National Junior of the Year, scored 26 of his points in the second half and had 15 in the fourth quarter to spark the comeback.
Principia jumped out to a 7-0 lead to start the game and led 17-12 after the first quarter and 31-26 at the half.
Jordan Smith is averaging 31.3 points per game through three outings at the prestigious City of Palms Classic in Florida. (PHOTO: Francis Fedor)
A 9-0 run mid-way through the third quarter gave Paul VI its first lead of the game at 44-41 but Principia bounced back to take a 53-51 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
Paul VI took the momentum in the final period with a 14-2 run to open up a 70-62 advantage following back-to-back 3-point shots from each corner by
Matthew Mena.
Smith also knocked down a pair of 3-point shots during the spurt while
Brian Mitchell Jr. started the run with a layup to cut the deficit to two points.
Free throws down the stretch gave Paul VI the 10-point victory in a game that it led for just over six minutes of game action.
Smith shot 12 of 20 from the field, 7 of 9 from 3-point range and 3 of 5 from the free throw line. Junior teammates Mitchell and Mena each contributed 17 points in the win.
Principia (5-1) fell just shy of picking up its third consecutive victory over a top-five opponent. The Missouri school will look to bounce back in the third-place game tomorrow at 7 p.m.
After averaging 32.5 points per contest through his first two games, top 100 Wake Forest signee
Quentin Coleman was held to a team-high 14 points to go along with six assists and four steals.
