Yale vs. Akron
Friday, Dec. 20 – 5 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. ET
Don Haskins Center
El Paso, Tex.
Stream on: YouTube | Live Stats
 
There are two more tilts to go for the Bulldogs in the 2024 calendar year as they head to Texas for the 63^rd Annual Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational. Yale (5-5) will go head-to-head with Akron on Friday evening and then will face either the host, the University of Texas-El Paso, or Jackson State on Saturday – pending the results of Friday's games.

Last Time Out

• After a long couple of weeks on the road, Yale took down Vermont 65-50, in their return to John J. Lee Amphitheater on Dec. 7.
• Casey Simmons notched season-highs in points (18), rebounds (8), assists (2) and steals (3) in the win.
• Down 30-24 early in the second half, Mbeng and first year Isaac Celiscar hit 3-pointers on consecutive trips up the court, evening the score up at 30. Those baskets kick-started what became a 12-0 run for Yale, giving them a 36-30 lead, one they never relented.
• After trailing 24-22 at the half, Yale ultimately outscored Vermont 43-26 in the final 20 minutes to secure the victory.
• The Yale defense forced three Vermont shot clock violations in the second half.
• Yale out-rebounded Vermont 40-29 and outscored it 30-20 in the paint.

 
Bulldog Notes

• With a three-steal performance against Vermont, Bez Mbeng now sits at 156 career steals, one away from moving into second place all-time by a Yale player. That position is currently held by Daniel Okonkwo, who had 157 during his career with the Bulldogs from 1993-97.
• Five players are averaging at least 8.0 points per game – with three of those players averaging in double figures. John Poulakidas (21.1), Nick Townsend (13.1), and Bez Mbeng (11.9) are in double-digit point production, while Casey Simmons and Isaac Celiscar are both averaging 8.4 points per game.
• Casey Simmons' field goal efficiency has been a bright spot for the Bulldogs as he sinks 67.3% of his attempts, which is first in the Ivy League.
• First year Isaac Celiscars' 55.9% efficiency from the field is fourth in the Ivy League.  
• Nick Townsend has scored in double-digits in five-straight games including a 20-point performance against Delaware on Nov. 24. He also brought down 10 boards helping him earn his second-career double double.
• John Poulakidas has registered double-digit points in all nine of his appearances this season. He has 20+ in six of those contests.
• Poulakidas is 11^th in the country in points per game (21.1) and ninth in free throw percentage (94.1).
• Bez Mbeng is 29th in the country in assists per game (5.8).
• As a team, Yale is 11^th in the country in assists per game (18.9).

Season Notes

• Head Coach James Jones picked up his 400^th career win in the Yale's 91-66 showing over Fairfield on Nov. 23. Jones is in his 26^th season with Yale.
• John Poulakidas registered his 1,000^th career point against Delaware on Nov. 24.
• Bez Mbeng played in his 100^th career game for Yale against Vermont on Dec. 7.
• Seniors John Poulakidas and Bez Mbeng were named to the 2024-25 Lou Henson Early Season Watch List. The award is presented annually to the top player in mid-major college basketball.
• Poulakidas and Mbeng are two of six Ivy League players on the list. They join Princeton's Xavian Lee and Caden Pierce, Brown's Kino Lilly, Jr., and Columbia's Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa.

 
A Look at History Against Akron

• This will be just the third meeting in program history for the Bulldogs and Zips.
• It is the first showing since the 1907-08 season. Akron (then Buchtel College) won the first meeting on Jan. 1, 1907, 36-30.
•  Yale won the second meeting by a score of 32-28 on December 23, 1907.

 
Scouting the Zips

• Akron enters Friday with a record of 6-3 overall.
• After winning five straight games, their streak was snapped in their last outing with 100-81 loss to Milwaukee on Dec. 15.
• On their five-game winning streak, the Zips scored 90+ points in three of five and put up 80+ in one.
• Nate Johnson and Tavari Johnson are the two Zips averaging double-digit points per game at 13.0 and 13.1, respectively.
• Isaiah Gray has been one of their most effectively shooters – with a 51.6% shooting percentage from the field and 45.5% accuracy from beyond the arc.

 
Up Next
Yale will face either UTEP/Jackson State on Saturday to wrap up the Sun Bowl Invitational. Tip-off will either be 7 pm or 9 pm ET.