PRINCETON — Jackson Hicke believes he and his Princeton teammates are close to getting over the hump, but it’s one thing or another that prevents them from winning. In this long losing streak that has now reached seven games after a 59-56 setback against Merrimack on Wednesday night at Jadwin Gy mnasium, the Tigers have dropped the last six by an average margin of four points per game. It’s agonizing for the fanbase and frustrating for the players even though they have been shorthanded for all of it and feel like they are getting better. “It’s hard not to be frustrated just as a competitor,” said Hicke, who scored 21 points and has reached the 20-point mark in four of the last six games. “The locker room spirits are still good and we’re improving, and we know that … but winning games is a skill and we haven’t been able to do that yet. Once we learn how to do that we’ll really take the next step.” How exactly can that skill be acquired to turn close losses into victories? “We talk about making these 4-to-5 plays to win games,” Hicke said, “and I think we are two plays away from winning these games.” On Wednesday, the Tigers led, 50-46, after Hicke buried a 3-pointer with 3:51 left, but got out-scored, 13-6, the rest of the way. Malik Abdullahi made two free throws with 44 seconds to go for a one-point lead. Instead of the stop it needed, Princeton couldn’t keep the ball in front and fouled on a drive to the rim. Merrimack made both free throws and then got the defensive stand the Tigers couldn’t. “I can do a better job at leading as the oldest guy out there and really set an example,” Hicke said. “(It’s) kind of forgetting our principles for these last three minutes. It’s a young team, and I know we can’t keep saying that, but it comes with experience, comes with being in these games. While we are definitely getting better one of these days we have to get over the hump and hopefully when we do that it will stack up.” Again, there were positives within the 40 minutes. Abdullahi returned from a toe injury and looked good in the second half after getting his sea legs back. Freshman Sebastian Whitfield appears more comfortable with each passing game. They made 17-of-21 free throws. They corralled a season-high 19 offensive rebounds. And yet … Princeton (3-10) has lost seven straight games in a season for the first time since it endured seven consecutive Ivy League setbacks during the 2017-18 season. The last time a losing skid dragged on longer than this was in Sydney Johnson’s first season in 2007-08 when there were streaks of nine and 12 games. “I think that’s what we are. We’re not there yet,” coach Mitch Henderson said. “I’m encouraged by the group very much. We’re getting better, but we have to get healthy. The scheduled has been brutal.” Now the Tigers break 10 days for exams before making the short trip to Philadelphia to meet Temple for the second time this season. Whether they will be a full strength or not remains a mystery. Henderson sounded ominous when asked for the daily Dalen Davis update. The junior guard and his 16.5 points per game have been absent from the last seven due to an ankle injury suffered on Nov. 20. “I really don’t know. I would give you an update if I could,” Henderson said. “With the 12 days off now it helps. Ivy League play in college basketball is pretty much one week later than everybody else. It crunched us and then we played in that MTE so it was a lot of games and he got hurt at a tough time.” ...read more read less