LOST WEEKEND: Princeton University men’s basketball player Malik Abdullahi heads upcourt in recent action. Last Saturday, sophomore forward Abdullahi scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a losing cause as Princeton fell 75-65 to visiting Columbia. A day earlier, the Tigers fell 89-65 to Cornell. Princeton, now 8-17 overall and 4-6 Ivy League, plays at Brown on February 20. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)

By Bill Alden

Coming off a lopsided 89-65 loss to Cornell on Friday night, the Princeton University men’s basketball team appeared to be getting back on the right track as it hosted Columbia a day later.

Tightening up its defense and shooting 50 percent from the floor (11-for-22). Princeton took a 31-30 lead over the Lions into halftime.

But Columbia responded by starting the second half with a 27-15 run to go up 57-46 and seize momentum. The Tigers cut the lead to 65-60 but couldn’t get closer than that as they fell 75-65 before 2,769 at Jadwin Gym.

“There was stretch in the game where I thought they were moving the ball nicely and we were not,” said Princeton head coach Mitch Henderson, whose team is now 8-17 overall and 4-6 Ivy League and has lost three straight games to slip into fifth place in the Ivy standings. “We got a little one-on-one focused, that little stretch made the difference in the game. We couldn’t overcome it at the end.”

The Tigers have struggled to overcome injury as one starting guard, Dalen Davis, was sidelined by an ankle injury from late November into January, and now another starting guard, Jack Stanton, is out for the season with a foot injury.

“Our discipline has been really important to us and it has just been evaporating, maybe that is part of that,” said Henderson.

The Tigers lacked discipline at the offensive end against Columbia as they got away from their typical focus on ball movement.

“We had five assists tonight that is never part of the game plan for us,” said Henderson. “It happened naturally within the flow of things. We moved the ball so nicely up there (when Princeton defeated Columbia 80-68 on January 31). It was a different group because we had Jack. The ball was flying and it just didn’t go that way tonight.”

Princeton sophomore forward Malik Abdullahi, who scored 14 points and had seven rebounds in the loss to Columbia, acknowledged that the ball didn’t bounce the way of the Tigers as Columbia hit some clutch shots that bounced in off the rim and even one that dropped in off the top of the backboard.

“It is basketball, you are bound to make some big plays so credit to them,” said Abdullahi. “When you are trying to get back into game, they make a play like that. You tell yourself next play.”

It has been next man up for Princeton as the team has worked around injury.

“Obviously we want our guys to be fully healthy but someone else has to step up, whether that is a starter that is already playing or someone who hasn’t played much,” said Abdullahi. “I think that is the focus within this team right now. Everyone has just been preparing, staying ready to step up and provide what they team needs.”

Abdullahi has worked hard to step up as he is averaging 9.8 points and 6.0 rebounds a game this season, up from 4.3 points and 2.7 rebounds last winter.

“It is being in the gym a lot and getting the trust within the team with them just trusting me and giving me confidence every day to go out there and be the best version of myself,” said Abdullahi, a 6’7, 207-pound native of Miami, Fla. “I think that is the progress that I have made over time, obviously working hard. The team always giving me that edge and that belief you can be really, really good. My coaches tell me that all the time — you can be really good in this league.”

Looking ahead, Abdullahi is confident that the Tigers will keep working hard collectively.

“It is, go back to the drawing board and see what went wrong. Obviously five assists is not like us,” said Abdullahi. “It is rebounding, defensive roles, being disciplined overall and all of those little things. We will be going back and seeing what we need to get better at.”

Henderson credits Abdullahi with getting better and better this winter.

“Malik was terrific; I am pleased to hear what he is saying about getting the discipline and growing,” said Henderson. “That is what we are after here. It is a really fun group to work with right now, we are in a tough stretch.”

As the Tigers head into the stretch run, starting with a game at Brown on February 20, they will have to display toughness as they look to get into the top four in the league standings and earn a spot in the upcoming Ivy postseason tournament.

“They have responded all season and play really hard,” said Henderson. “The league is really competitive and physical. Two weeks ago we were on fire in that game. It is crazy how things happen just really quickly. They have been responding really well day-by-day here. We have to go on the road and get a win.”