ITHACA, N.Y. – The Yale defense held Cornell's high-powered offense pretty much in check, limiting the Big Red to 41 percent shooting and holding them nearly nine points below their season average. Cornell, though, played some pretty good defense as well, forcing 20 Yale turnovers. The result was a 71-65 Big Red victory at Newman Arena.
 
The loss drops Yale (16-11, 10-3 Ivy) a half game behind Princeton in the race for the Ivy League regular season title and the Ivy Madness No. 1 seed. The Tigers play at Harvard on Sunday.
 
Penn fell at Dartmouth on Saturday so the Bulldogs remain in sole possession of second place.
 
Cornell (14-10, 6-7 Ivy) greatly enhanced its chances of earning the No. 4 seed in the tournament with the victory,
 
Guy Ragland Jr. and Jordan Jones scored 11 points apiece to lead a balanced Big Red attack.
 
Jalen Gabbidon paced the Bulldogs with 15 points and Azar Swain added 13. Yussif Basa-Ama had four points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
 
Yale had a 27-21 lead with four minutes left in the first half, but Cornell closed with a 12-2 run to take a 33-29 lead at the intermission.
 
The Bulldogs were within three, 52-49, with eight minutes left, but an 8-2 run gave the Big Red control. Yale pulled back within four in the final 30 seconds, but Cornell hung on for the win.
 
The Bulldogs close out the regular season by hosting Brown next Saturday at the John J. Lee Amphitheater. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.