CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Isaac Celiscar sank game-winning free throws with less than a second remaining in overtime, and three Bulldogs scored in double figures as the Yale men's basketball team outlasted Harvard, 76–75, in overtime Saturday evening at Lavietes Pavilion.
Yale improved to 20–4 (8–2 Ivy) and took back sole possession of first place in the Ivy League standings, while Harvard dropped to 14–10 (7–3 Ivy).
Turning Point
After Harvard held a 61-58 lead with 4:34 remaining in regulation, Yale responded with four consecutive points, all from
Casey Simmons, to take a one-point advantage. The Crimson answered with a layup to reclaim the lead, but Celiscar's free throws put the Bulldogs ahead 64-63. Harvard then drained a three-pointer to go up 66-64 with 1:59 left, yet Celiscar's tallied free throws tied the game at 66, sending it into overtime.
In overtime, the back-and-forth continued.
Jordan Brathwaite's three-pointer gave Yale a 71-70 lead, but Harvard countered with a layup. Brathwaite hit another three to push the Bulldogs ahead 74-72, yet Harvard quickly responded with a three-point play to take a one-point edge (75-74) with 2:07 remaining. With 20 seconds left in the overtime period, Celiscar grabbed a crucial offensive rebound, drew a shooting foul with less than a second remaining, and calmly sank both free throws to seal the win.
Notable Performances
- Celiscar recorded a double-double with 17 points on 4-of-8 shooting, grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds, and went 9-of-12 from the free-throw line.
- Brathwaite notched 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting, was 5-of-9 from deep, and a perfect 2-of-2 from the free throw line.
- Simmons added 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, was a perfect 2-of-2 from three, went 2-of-2 from the stripe, and pulled down eight rebounds.
- Trevor Mullin contributed eight points, shot a perfect 2-of-2 from the free-throw line, and chipped in three rebounds and two assists.
- Riley Fox had seven points and an assist.
- Yale's bench made a major impact, outscoring Harvard University 27–2.
- The Bulldogs capitalized on second-chance opportunities, converting them into 18 points.
Hear from Coach Jones
"It was great to be able to get a win on the road like this without your captain. It proves how good you can be, especially when you have them. Everybody had to step up and they did, and it was fun to watch."
Bulldog Notes
- Celiscar has scored in double figures in 19 games this season.
- Brathwaite's 17-point performance set a new career high.
- Celiscar recorded career highs with 14 rebounds and nine made free throws.
- Brathwaite knocked down a career-best five three-pointers.
- Celiscar notched his third double-double of the season.
- The victory over Harvard ended a two-game skid against the Crimson.
- The Bulldogs are riding a four-game winning streak.
- Yale has tallied 20 or more wins in six of the past seven seasons.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will host Penn on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m.
