NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Yale's dominance in Lee Amphitheater continues.
Matthue Cotton scored 20 points and
Azar Swain added 16 as the Bulldogs cruised to an easy 93-62 victory over Columbia.
Yale improved to 6-0 at home where it has outscored its opponents by nearly 30 points per game.
Overall, the Bulldogs (15-4, 3-0 Ivy) have won five straight games and 13 of their last 14.
Yale's offense was firing on all cylinders. The Bulldogs outscored the Lions 42-18 in the paint and made 14 three-pointers. The frontcourt of
Paul Atkinson and
Jordan Bruner combined for 28 points and 17 rebounds, while Cotton, Swain,
Eric Monroe (6 points, 7 assists) and
August Mahoney did damage on the outside.
"Our whole game is trying to play inside out," said
James Jones, The Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of the Bulldogs. "We think we are really good at the basket. If [opponents] take that away, that's going to open up shots on the perimeter."
Throw in 26 assists on 38 field goals and it may have been Yale's best offensive performance of what has been a very successful season.
"Twenty-six assists is an incredible number for a Division I basketball game," Jones said. "Our guys do a really good job of looking for each other and making that extra pass. It's fun to watch."
The Bulldogs were pretty good defensively as well, limiting Columbia to just 40 percent from field. Mike Smith paced the Lions with 20 points but was just 1-of-6 from three-point range.
The score was tied at 10-10 five minutes in, but Yale used a commanding 19-4 run to seize control. By halftime, the Bulldogs were in front 40-21, and Columbia never got closer in the second half.
Yale used a balanced attack as 12 Bulldogs scored. Mahoney made all three of his shots, including two from beyond the arc to finish with eight points, Atkinson posted his fifth double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, Bruner also had 14 points and grabbed six rebounds, while
Jalen Gabbidon had four points.
"Our team so deep, and it shows on a night like tonight," said Swain, who was 4-of-8 from the field. "We are a really focused group."
Cotton continued his strong play, matching his career-high set last Friday at Brown with the 20 points. He was 7-of-12 from the field and 6-of-10 from three-point range. Cotton credits his play at the other end of the floor for his recent offensive surge.
"I feel comfortable on defense now, so I can focus on other parts of my game," he said. "My coaches and teammates are always encouraging me to be better."
The Bulldogs are back in action on Saturday, hosting Cornell at 7 p.m. at Lee Amphitheater.
