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Princeton University Athletics
Monday, December 22
Philadelphia, Pa.
7:00 PM
Princeton University
3-11,0-0Ivy League
61
at
65
Temple
8-5,0-0American
1
2
F
Princeton
35
26
61
Temple
33
32
65
Men's Basketball Falls at Temple, 65-51, Despite Abdullahi's Career-High 21 Points
December 22, 2025 | Men's Basketball
PRINCETON, N.J. – Despite a game and career-high 21 points from sophomore Malik Abdullahi, the Princeton University men's basketball team dropped a close road contest inside the Licaouras Center to Temple Monday night, 65-61.
Abdullahi's 21 points came on 9-for-11 shooting from the field and 3-for-4 shooting from the free throw line, with his nine made field goals also a career-high. In addition, Abdullahi tied the game-high in rebounding with seven. Junior Jackson Hicke scored 10 points, tied the game-high in rebounding with seven and tied the team-high in assists with three. Sophomore Jack Stanton added 10 points and three assists, also tying the team-high.
An early 7-0 run by Temple saw the Owls jump out to an 11-6 lead with 14:08 on the clock. The Tigers showed fight, reducing the deficit to three and making it a three-point game at 14-11 with 10:29 left in the half after a Stanton three-pointer.
Temple would extend its advantage back out to eight at 5:33, 27-18. A layup by Abdullahi ignited a 7-0 run that made it a one-point game at 2:34, 29-28, then Hicke drained a three-pointer with 0:02 on the clock to send Princeton into halftime with a 35-33 advantage.
The Owls used a 10-0 run early in the second half to retake the lead, 43-37, with 14:36 left to play. Consecutive baskets by Abdullahi made it a 43-41 game with 13:36 remaining as there was no quit in the Tigers.
Princeton and Temple continued to battle back-and-forth down the stretch in the second half. The Owls led 53-46 at 8:50, but a short jumper by Hicke made it a two-point game with 7:06 left to play, 55-53. Layups by Abdullahi then sophomore CJ Happy kept it a two-point game, 63-61, with 1:18 remaining but the Owls managed to hold on for the 65-61 win.
Up Next
The Tigers host Vermont (8-6) at 1 p.m. on Dec. 30 inside Jadwin Gymnasium.
Abdullahi's 21 points came on 9-for-11 shooting from the field and 3-for-4 shooting from the free throw line, with his nine made field goals also a career-high. In addition, Abdullahi tied the game-high in rebounding with seven. Junior Jackson Hicke scored 10 points, tied the game-high in rebounding with seven and tied the team-high in assists with three. Sophomore Jack Stanton added 10 points and three assists, also tying the team-high.
An early 7-0 run by Temple saw the Owls jump out to an 11-6 lead with 14:08 on the clock. The Tigers showed fight, reducing the deficit to three and making it a three-point game at 14-11 with 10:29 left in the half after a Stanton three-pointer.
Temple would extend its advantage back out to eight at 5:33, 27-18. A layup by Abdullahi ignited a 7-0 run that made it a one-point game at 2:34, 29-28, then Hicke drained a three-pointer with 0:02 on the clock to send Princeton into halftime with a 35-33 advantage.
The Owls used a 10-0 run early in the second half to retake the lead, 43-37, with 14:36 left to play. Consecutive baskets by Abdullahi made it a 43-41 game with 13:36 remaining as there was no quit in the Tigers.
Princeton and Temple continued to battle back-and-forth down the stretch in the second half. The Owls led 53-46 at 8:50, but a short jumper by Hicke made it a two-point game with 7:06 left to play, 55-53. Layups by Abdullahi then sophomore CJ Happy kept it a two-point game, 63-61, with 1:18 remaining but the Owls managed to hold on for the 65-61 win.
Up Next
The Tigers host Vermont (8-6) at 1 p.m. on Dec. 30 inside Jadwin Gymnasium.
Team Stats
PU
Temple
FG%
.415
.463
3FG%
.263
.333
FT%
.750
.733
RB
32
34
TO
9
8
STL
5
5
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
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