Yale vs. Vermont
Saturday, Dec. 7 – 2 p.m.
John J. Lee Amphitheater
New Haven, Conn.
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A quick pit stop at home will see the Yale men's basketball squad take on the Vermont Catamounts for a Saturday matinee in New Haven. After a long stint on the road, the Bulldogs enter the weekend with a 4-5 overall record.

Last Time Out

• Yale wrapped up its road stint with an 84-78 loss at Rhode Island on Dec. 2.
• John Poulakidas led the Bulldogs with 25 points.
• Nick Townsend registered 14 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
• Casey Simmons finished the night with 10 points, while bringing down seven boards and two steals.
• Yale had 17 second chance points compared to URI's nine and 15 points off turnovers compared to the Rams' five.

Bulldog Notes

• John Poulakidas has registered double-digit points in all nine games this season. He has 20+ in six of those contests.
• With Poulakidas' 25 points against Rhode Island, it is the first time a Yale player has scored 25 points since he did so in Yale's victory over Auburn in the NCAA Tournament on March 22, 2024.
• In addition to Poulakidas who is averaging 21.1 points per game, two other Bulldogs are averaging double figures: Nick Townsend (13.1) and Bez Mbeng (12.0).
• Poulakidas, Townsend, and Samson Aletan have started and played in all nine games this season. Mbeng has started all eight of his appearances.
• Poulakidas is tied for 14^th in NCAA Division I in total points scored (190) and tied for 16^th in points per game (21.1). He is also ninth in the country in total three-pointers made (32).
• Poulakidas ranks 19^th in NCAA Division I in free throw percentage (94.12%).
• Bez Mbeng is tied for 31^st in the country in assists per game (5.8).

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.
• 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 Vermont

• The two teams have played on another in every season between 2007-08 and 2019-20, missed 2020-21 due to the pandemic and then resumed in 2021-22.
• The Catamounts lead the all-time series 19-15.
• Last season, Yale traveled to Burlington on Dec. 2, 2023, but fell to the Catamounts, 66-65 after a late-game push.
• The last time the pair played in New Haven, the Bulldogs trailed 30-27 at halftime and then proceeded to outscore UVM 46-14 in the second half to win 73-44.

Scouting the Catamounts

• Vermont comes into Saturday's matchup with a 5-5 record. In their last game, they fell to Brown, 60-53, at home on Dec. 3.
• The Catamounts shot 37.9% from the field and 23.8% from three-point range.
• Sean Blake led the team in scoring with 13 points on 6-12 shooting.
• TJ Hurley (13.6) and TJ Long (12.4) are both averaging in double digits.
• For the players with 30+ field goal attempts, Ileri Ayo-Faleye leads the way with a team high 50% shooting. He also leads the team in three-point shooting percentage with a 46.2% shooting percentage.

 
Up Next
Two more games remain for the Bulldogs in the 2024 calendar year. They will travel to El Paso, Texas for the Sun Bowl Invitational from Dec. 20-21. Yale faces Akron and then will face the winner of Jackson State and UTEP on Saturday the 21^st.