Temple defeats Princeton 65-61

Temple Edges Princeton in Thrilling Comeback Victory at Home

In a non-conference matchup that would be remembered for its dramatic twists and turns, Temple University men's basketball team took down visiting Princeton 65-61 on Wednesday night at the Liacouras Center.

The Owls erased a two-point deficit at halftime to take the lead, and their resilience paid off as they outlasted the Tigers in an instant classic. The game's narrative pivot came when Temple's Jordan Mason scored nine points in the third quarter, including three clutch 3-pointers that put his team up by six.

Mason finished with 16 points, along with four assists, two rebounds, and one steal. For Princeton, Malik Abdullahi led the way with 21 points and seven rebounds. The junior big man's efficiency was a concern, shooting an impressive 81.8% from the field but struggling to find his range beyond the arc.

Temple's Balanced Attack

The Owls' success can be attributed to their balanced attack. Jordan Mason's all-around performance highlighted the team's ability to make plays on both ends of the floor. Jamai Felt contributed six rebounds and four points off the bench, providing a crucial boost when needed most.

Temple's 3-point shooting was a key differentiator in this matchup, making just 4-of-12 attempts but hitting the three-point line at a critical juncture to swing momentum in their favor. The team's free throw shooting was also a significant factor, converting 11 of 15 from the line.

Princeton's Struggles with Outside Shooting

For Princeton, the inability to find success outside of the paint proved costly. Despite Abdullahi's heroics, his teammates struggled to replicate his efficiency from beyond the arc. The team's overall field goal percentage was a respectable 46.0%, but their three-point shooting was less fortunate at 28.0%.

Advanced Metrics

Temple's eFG% of 50.0% and FT Rate of 27.8% were noteworthy, indicating an efficient game plan on both ends. Princeton's OREB% of 28.1, while respectable for a bigger team, could have easily flipped the script if their outside shooting had been more reliable.

Conclusion

In this tightly contested non-conference matchup, Temple demonstrated its resilience and ability to close out games in crunch time. While Princeton showed flashes of brilliance led by Abdullahi, it was ultimately the Owls' collective effort that secured the victory at home. As both teams head into the stretch of their conference schedule, this game will be remembered as a thrilling example of the back-and-forth nature of college basketball.