INSIDE PRESENCE: Princeton University men’s basketball player Malik Abdullahi defends a foe in recent action. Freshman forward Abdullahi has provided the Tigers with a spark in the paint. Abdullahi scored 11 points and had four rebounds along with one block in a 73-68 loss to Loyola University Chicago on Friday and followed that up with eight points and three rebounds in a 68-57 win over Merrimack last Sunday. Abdullahi was later named Ivy League Rookie of the Week. Princeton, now 4-1, will be competing in the Myrtle Beach Invitational in Conway, S.C., from November 21-24 before returning home to host Nazareth on November 27. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

In its first three games this season, the Princeton University men’s basketball team displayed a knack for pulling out nail-biters.

In its season opener against visiting Iona on November 4, Princeton overcame a 16-point second half deficit to pull out an 81-80 win. Against Duquesne four days later, the Tigers trailed by four points with five minutes left before prevailing 75-68. Facing Northeastern on November 10, Princeton trailed 74-71 but produced another late surge to win 79-76.

Hosting undefeated Loyola University Chicago last Friday evening before a crowd of 2,472 at Jadwin Gym, it looked like the Tigers were going to come through down the stretch again as they trailed 63-62 but forged ahead 68-66 with 1:41 left in regulation. But this time there was no late game magic for Princeton as the Ramblers reeled off a 7-0 run to prevail 73-68.

Afterward, Tiger head coach Mitch Henderson credited the feisty Ramblers with out-hustling Princeton in the waning moments of the contest.

“I have so much respect for Loyola Chicago, they are an incredibly well-coached team, they play so hard,” said Henderson. “We didn’t have an answer for how hard they were playing and they came up all of the big plays in the last four minutes of the game and it cost us. We have been really good at that over the years and a great opportunity for us to learn from it.”

The disappointing finish resulted in a hard postgame conversation.

“We had a very direct talk in the locker room,” said Henderson.

“We got outworked in parts of the game. We responded but when they make more free throws than you and they are beating you up on the boards you have got to work really hard for that. In the last three minutes of that game, it was anybody’s ball game and we have been really good at coming up with those wins.”

The Tigers did get very good performances from star guards Xaivian Lee and Dalen Davis as they both tallied 17 points.

“I will say this to both of them — there is so much that they are doing that is good,” said Henderson. “It is hard when you lose to focus on the good things, but there is so much that is good. Dalen and Xaivian are such good players. They have to lead us in all of the littlest things that matter. We didn’t make the tough plays towards the end of the game. I want Dalen and Xaivian to lead us on those things. When they do that, boy, there is so much we
can do.”

Junior star Lee acknowledged that the Tigers didn’t show toughness down the stretch. “We played four games like that, in the first three, we were the one making all of those plays, today they were,” said Lee. “Credit to them, they came out very aggressive and physical and they played like that the whole time. We have got to come up with those plays, simply put.”

Davis, who drained 5-of-7 three-pointers to help spark the Princeton offense, agreed with Lee’s analysis.

“I was just doing whatever my team needed to keep us in the game,” said Davis. “We have got to come out more aggressive, they started with a 7-0 run. It is go back to the drawing board and come out Sunday (against Merrimack).”

While the loss stung, Henderson took a larger
perspective.

“This is not the end of the world. The end of the world is March, losing then,” said Henderson. “This is the best thing to play a really good team and come up short. It is November, there is so much basketball to play. We have some really good players and I hope they can keep coming together.”

On Sunday at Merrimack, things came together for the Tigers as they overcame a 29-15 first half deficit to win 68-57 in improving to 4-1.

“It is how do we respond, that is what really matters,” said Henderson, whose team will be competing in the Myrtle Beach Invitational in Conway, S.C., from November 21-24 before returning home to host Nazareth in November 27. “Let’s address things head on and go forward. I am so bullish on the group. I said some difficult things in the locker room. I think it is important that we, as a group, everybody from head coach all the way down look at why is it that they outworked us at the end of the game. That can’t be happening.”