Coming off a disappointing season opener at Akron (3–1 overall, 0–0 MAC), the Tigers (2–2, 0–0 Ivy League) bounced back with two wins in just three days. They faced a test on Saturday that any team in the country would fear: a trip to Allen Fieldhouse and a faceoff against one of the traditional “blue bloods” of college basketball, the No. 25 Kansas Jayhawks (3–1, 0–0 Big 12).
Princeton also saw the challenge of their third game in five days. With a Kansas team and a Jayhawk fanbase hungry to repeat their 2022 NCAA Championship later this season, the task was too tall for the Orange and Black.
“It was a special opportunity for players, fans, families, and everyone else involved,” junior point guard Dalen Davis told The Daily Princetonian. “Princeton hasn’t been there since 1999, and I am glad this team got a chance to play in Allen Fieldhouse.”
Princeton started strong, playing clean basketball, and seemed unfazed by the crowd. While the Jayhawks opened the scoring with a contested three-pointer, sophomore small forward Jackson Hicke responded for the Tigers.
Princeton’s first three baskets all came from beyond the arc as Hicke and Davis added to the tally. With a 9–5 lead and a firm grasp on the turnover margin, the Tigers were playing their brand of basketball.
The Tigers continued to battle well into the first half and found themselves up 18–13 by the midpoint of the opening twenty. Hicke and Davis provided the spark for the Tigers, scoring all but two of their points. For the underdog Orange and Black, weathering the early storm proved critical. With Kansas missing their star first-year and Bob Cousy Award hopeful Darryn Peterson, it was a nearly perfect start for the Tigers.
While Princeton fended off the first push by Kansas, they needed to weather many more waves if they wanted to leave Allen Fieldhouse with a victory, and the Jayhawks came flying back. Kansas flipped the early script, forcing six Princeton turnovers in six minutes and punishing the Tigers in transition. With energy provided by center Flory Bidunga, who ended with a season-high 25-point double-double, the Jayhawks went on a 9–0 run and held Princeton scoreless for five minutes.
Kansas now had a 22–18 lead. The Jayhawks dominated the Orange and Black in the paint, ending with a 40–12 rebound advantage down low. This proved to be an issue for Princeton moving forward in the contest, as a small frontcourt rotation meant foul trouble was fatal. Kansas saw eleven players get on the floor in the first half alone, highlighting the depth in high-major programs.
Up four and with a bumping crowd, Kansas threatened to put the game out of hand before halftime. However, with much poise and resilience, Princeton wasn’t done. Sophomore guard Jack Stanton silenced Allen Fieldhouse with a three-pointer. With a free throw from Davis, Princeton was back even at 22–22. While Davis and Stanton produced efficient offense for the Tigers for the rest of the half, Bidunga took over for Kansas. The star center had fifteen points in the last four minutes of the opening frame. As a result, the Jayhawks had their largest lead of the game heading into the locker room, up 37–29.
It once again seemed as though Kansas would run away with the contest, but Princeton answered once again. Sophomore Jack Stanton drilled back-to-back threes, including an and-one to bring the Tigers within three.
While Bidunga once again took control under the basket for Kansas, Davis hit an enormous three that cut the Kansas lead to just one at 44–43 with 14 minutes left in the game, forcing legendary Jayhawks coach Bill Self to call a timeout.
The Tigers hung tough and provided this early second-half response in large part due to emulating what they did at the start of the game: playing clean basketball, limiting Kansas’ transition opportunities, and avoiding foul trouble. However, from then on, it was all Kansas.
Due to the paint threat imposed by Bidunga, Princeton’s need to play stronger help defense under the basket opened up the three-point shot for the Jayhawks, and Kansas made them pay. After having their lead slim down to just one, the home squad hit a pair of threes and found themselves up ten points not even two minutes later. It was not a good time for the Orange and Black to grow cold on their shots. While Hicke and Stanton each hit a three to stay within arm’s reach, the Jayhawk momentum was too much for the Tigers to overcome. Princeton was soon down 67–49.
From there on, the teams traded baskets, and Princeton failed to threaten Kansas, ending in a 76–57 defeat for the Tigers. Despite the double-digit loss, Princeton stood its ground in an extremely difficult matchup on paper. The Tigers shot 16 less from the field and were greatly outrebounded by Kansas, but they showed their resilience and withstood Jayhawk runs that have vanquished countless opponents every season.
“While Allen Fieldhouse is a special place to play, it is only the fourth game of the season,” Davis told the ‘Prince.’ “The later we get in the season, the more ‘hostile’ these environments will get competing for the Ivy League championship.”
While the schedule may not get any harder for the Orange and Black, they will still face challenges before the start of Ivy League play. Next Tuesday, Princeton will travel to upstate New York to play the Iona Gaels (3–0, 0–0 MAAC). With Iona being undefeated and hungry to avenge last year’s one-point loss to the Orange and Black, the Tigers have another big test ahead of them.
Lucas Nor is a staff Sports writer for the ‘Prince.’
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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