NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Coming off a tough test at No. 14 Alabama to close out 2025, the Yale men's basketball team looks to start the new year on a high note, facing Brown on the road in its Ivy League opener on Monday, Jan. 5.
 
Yale at Brown
Monday, Jan. 5 – 7 p.m.
Pizzitola Sports Center
Providence, R.I.
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Yale Game Notes
 
Last Time Out

• Nick Townsend tallied a team-high 18 points, but it wasn't enough, as No. 14 Alabama used a big first half and knocked down 22 three-pointers to defeat Yale, 102–78, at Coleman Coliseum.
• After Isaac Celiscar gave Yale an early 3-0 advantage, Alabama's offense took off. The Crimson Tide knocked down four of their next five three-pointers to jump ahead 12–4 at the 16:40 mark.
• From there, Alabama never looked back, shooting 50% (19-of-28) in the first half and draining 11 three-pointers in each half to put the game out of reach.
• Townsend scored 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting, knocking down 2-of-4 from three-point range while grabbing seven rebounds.
• The Bulldogs and Alabama played an even second half (47–47), with Yale holding the Tide to 38.5% shooting (15-of-39) in the frame.
   

Bulldog Notes

• Three Bulldogs are averaging double-digit points: Townsend (17.0 ppg), Celiscar (13.9 ppg), and Riley Fox (12.8 ppg).
• Yale is second in the nation in three-point percentage (43.1), fifth in free throw percentage (79.0), and 10^th in assist/turnover ratio (1.87).
• The Bulldogs are fifth in the conference in field goal percentage (51.1).
• Townsend is fourth in the Ivy League in scoring (17.0), and Celiscar is 10^th (13.9).
• Townsend is also third in the league in rebounds (7.5 rpg) and second in assists (4.3 apg).
• Celiscar is first in the conference in field goal percentage (62.0), and Jordan Brathwaite is first in three-point percentage (57.9).
• Celiscar has scored in double figures for eight consecutive games.
• Townsend has recorded double-digit points in four consecutive games and collected seven or more rebounds in five straight games.
• Casey Simmons tallied eight rebounds against Alabama, which matched a season high.
• The Bulldogs' loss to the Crimson Tide snapped an eight-game winning streak.

 
Season Notes

• Townsend was tabbed a Field of 68 Midseason Mid-Major All-American on Dec. 27.
• Townsend was named to the 2025-26 Lou Henson Early Season Watch List on Dec. 18.
• The Bulldogs were ranked No. 2 with a first-place vote in the Mid Major Top 25 on Dec. 15.
• Yale tallied a program-record 117 points in a victory over SUNY Maritime on Dec. 2.
• Townsend was named USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week on Dec. 2.
• Townsend was tabbed Ivy League Player of the Week on Dec. 1.
• Yale was ranked No. 3 with a first-place vote in the Mid Major Top 25 on Dec. 1.
• Head Coach James Jones earned his 425^th career victory at Vermont on Nov. 30.
• The Bulldogs were ranked No. 4 in the Mid Major Top 25 on Nov. 26.
• Yale was crowned Paradise Jam Champions on Nov. 24.
• Townsend was tabbed Ivy League Player of the Week on Nov. 10.
• Yale was ranked No. 5 in the Preseason Mid Major Top 25 on Oct. 27.
• The Bulldogs were unanimously selected to finish first in the Ivy League Preseason Poll on Oct. 23.
• Townsend was tabbed to the Field of 68 Mid-Major Preseason All-American First Team on Oct. 10.
• Jones was appointed to the NABC Board of Directors on Sept. 3.

 
Ivy League Dominance

• Yale was predicted to unanimously finish first in the Ivy League preseason poll that was released in late October.
• Yale led the way with 168 points and earned all 21 first-place votes. Harvard followed in second with 126 points, just ahead of Cornell in third with 124. Princeton was fourth with 97 points, and Dartmouth placed fifth with 72. Brown (68), Penn (66), and Columbia (35) rounded out the poll results.
• The Bulldogs dominated in league action last season, finishing with a 13-1 mark.
• Under the direction of Jones, the Joel E. Smilow '54 Head Coach, Yale has won seven Ivy League championships and four Ivy League Tournament titles.
• Yale has also won at least 10 Ivy League games 10 times during his tenure and has finished in fourth place or better in the league for a remarkable 24 consecutive years.

 
Brown Rewind

• The Bulldogs and Bears last met on Mar. 8, with Yale winning by a score of 70-61.
• After Brown took a 49-47 advantage with 12:01 left in the second half, Yale responded with five consecutive points to reclaim the lead (52-49). 
• Brown narrowed the gap to 54-53 at the 8:59 mark, but the Bulldogs once again answered with another five-point surge.
• John Poulakidas scored 19 of his points in the second half and sealed the game with his fifth three-pointer of the day (66-59) after Brown made a late push with just under three minutes remaining.
• Townsend was one of three Bulldogs who tallied double-figures in the victory with 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting with a team-high six assists and three rebounds.

 
Scouting Brown

• The Bears are coming off a 105-47 victory over Johnson & Wales on Dec. 31.
• In the victory, Brown took control early with a 9-0 run, and went on to lead by as many as 26 in the opening half.
• Brown had seven players in double figures as Landon Lewis led the way with 19 points.
• Lewis' 19 points was a season-high, and the senior also matched a career-high with four steals.
• Jeremiah Jenkins leads the Ivy League in assists, averaging 5.0 per game.
• Brown finished sixth in the conference in 2024-25.
• The Bulldogs have won consecutive matchups against the Bears.

 
Up Next
The Bulldogs will remain on the road to face Princeton on Saturday, Jan. 10. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.