22-for-22.
You read that right. Yale men’s basketball (6-1) was 22-for-22 from the free-throw line and held off a furious Akron (5-2) charge to win the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam Tournament, 97-94, Monday night.
“I thought our guys were really connected against a really difficult opponent,” Yale coach James Jones said.
The Bulldogs (6-1) led by as many as 15 in the first half (42-27) and held a 46-37 halftime lead over the high-powered Zips (5-2). Sophomore forward Isaac Celiscar led Yale with 12. Akron double-teamed senior forward Nick Townsend, yet the Yale captain had eight points and dished out six halftime assists.
Akron cut the deficit to 62-56 on a senior guard Tavari Johnson layup.
Two graduate guard Shammah Scott treys cut the Yale lead to 78-76.
Johnson knotted it at 80 off of a nifty feed from senior forward Amani Lyles.
Junior guard Trevor Mullin and sophomore guard Riley Fox then hit treys to put Yale up, 86-80.
A senior guard Bowen Hardman long range three narrowed the deficit to 95-94 and Mullin hit two free throws to ice the victory.
Akron switched from man to zone at junctures of the second half, but it did not slow the Bulldogs.
Akron entered the game averaging 92 points per game, 25th in the nation, and Yale remains second in the country in three-point shooting, going 8-for-17.
Yale played much of the game with a hobbled junior center Samson Aletan, who managed eight points and five rebounds in 19 minutes.
Celiscar had a career-high 23 points.
“Isaac is a tremendous player,” Jones said. “He is a smart player.”
Townsend, the tourney MVP, added 21 points and 10 assists.
Yale moved to KenPom No. 79 with the victory. The Bulldogs now are 2-0 against the Zips, also defeating them last December.
Johnson led Akron with 35 points.
Akron pulverized Princeton in its season opener on Nov. 8 at James A. Rhodes Arena, 104-69.
Yale last won an in-season tourney in 2022, defeating Hawaii in the Rainbow Classic.
Yale next plays at Vermont on Sunday at 2 p.m.
The Bulldogs played very well. Their offense was clicking and great ball movement. Coach played guys off the bench for significant minutes and they more than held their own. It was a step up from previous games where they seemed more tentative.