Editor’s note: Ivy Hoops Online writers George “Toothless Tiger” Clark and Richard Kent deliver audio and written recaps, respectively, of Yale’s stunning second-half offensive outburst that secured a win over Princeton:
Yale had won seven out of the last eight games against Princeton, including the epic 2022 Ivy League Tournament final at Harvard. Make it now eight out of nine, as the Bulldogs posted a dominating 87-65 home win over the Tigers before a season-high 2,041 fans at the John J. Lee Amphitheater.
Princeton (14-6, 5-2 Ivy) led 36-35 at the half on 42% shooting, aided by Yale (14-6, 4-3) going 1-for-8 from the free throw line. The Tigers increased the lead to 49-44 on a three from sophomore guard Blake Peters.
Then Yale ignited.
The Bulldogs rattled off a 34-9 run, fueled by an 8-for-11 showing from three-point range and 21-for-29 shooting overall in the second half.
“Defensively, we cleaned up the mess we had in the first half,” Yale coach James Jones said, adding that “you go 14-for-21 from the arc and you are going to win those games.”
The Bulldogs indeed made two-thirds of their three-pointers and managed 23 assists on 35 made field goals. Princeton switched defenses throughout the extended Yale second-half run to no avail.
Sophomore guard John Poulakidas emerged from an extended shooting slump to lead the charge with 19 points on 7-for-13 shooting, including 5-for-6 shooting from three-point land. Junior guard August Mahoney contributed 15 points on 5-for-8 shooting, Junior forward Matt Knowling added 12 on 6-for-10 shooting.
Sophomore guard Bez Mbeng was a conduit for Yale’s overwhelming scoring rush, registering eight assists while not turning the ball over once.
Peters and reigning Ivy Player of the Year Tosan Evbuomwan each had 15 points for Princeton.
Yale had shot just 6-for-33 (18.1%) from three-point range in its first two Ivy games, both losses.
At halftime, Yale honored the 2001-02 Ivy League co-champions from Jones’ third season at the helm.
Yale plays at Harvard on Friday before a national television audience on ESPNU and Princeton hosts Cornell in a battle of Ivy first-place teams.
I think the one consoling factor for Princeton fans is that Yale’s second half outburst occurred during the regular season and at Yale rather than in March at Ivy Madness at Jadwin Gym. Ivy hoops fans deserve to see these two teams again in the finals of the Ivy League Tournament where I believe Princeton will have an excellent opportunity to turn the tables on the Bulldogs. In the meantime, congrats to Yale for again taming the Tigers. Despite their surprisingly slow start to the Ivy season, I believe Yale remains the team to beat in the IL.
%-+.,&?! I hate your kind of reaction, Steve. The SEASON Championship should be the prime motivator, NOT the contrived, and unjustly rewarded 2 game ILT. Sure, I ‘ll pull for the Tigers to qualify for and win the ILT. But, if another team wins the real championship, I will still feel the NCAA bid is tainted and awarded to the wrong team.
A cup, an NIT bid and some pancakes for the ILT winner. A trip to the NCAA to meet other champions for the real Ivy Season Champion.