NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Coming off its fifth straight win, the Yale men's basketball team looks to continue its momentum this weekend, hitting the road for an ESPNU-televised clash at Cornell on Friday, Feb. 27, and then Columbia on Saturday, Feb. 28.

Yale at Cornell
Friday, Feb. 27 – 6 p.m.
Newman Arena
Ithaca, N.Y.
ESPNU | Live Stats | Game Notes

Yale at Columbia
Saturday, Feb. 28 - 6 p.m.
Levien Gymnasium
New York, N.Y.
ESPN+ | Live Stats

 
Last Time Out

• Isaac Celiscar tallied a double-double to lead four Bulldogs in double figures as Yale held off Penn, 74-70, on Saturday afternoon at John J. Lee Amphitheater.
• After the Quakers cut the deficit to one, 61–60, with 5:51 remaining in the second half, the Bulldogs answered with a 6–0 run—four points coming from Celiscar—to extend their lead to 67–60.
• Penn rallied late, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers to pull within 68–66 with 44 seconds to play. Celiscar responded with a basket to push the margin to four, but Penn quickly trimmed it back to two, 70–68.
•  In the closing seconds, the Bulldogs sealed the victory at the free-throw line, as Celiscar and Trevor Mullin calmly converted their attempts to secure the win.

 
Bulldog Notes

• Yale ranks first in the nation in three-point percentage (41.0), 14^th in assist/turnover ratio (1.72), and 19^th in field goal percentage (49.8).
• Four Bulldogs are averaging double-digit points: Nick Townsend (16.5 ppg), Celiscar (12.4 ppg), Mullin (11.5 ppg) and Riley Fox (11.5 ppg).
• As a team, Yale is first in the Ivy League in field goal percentage (49.8).
• Townsend is eighth in the conference in scoring (16.5 ppg), second in rebounding (7.6 rpg) and assists (4.2 apg), and first in three-point field goal percentage (50.7).
• Celiscar is ninth in the league in rebounding (5.7 rpg), third in field goal percentage (55.9), and seventh in assists (3.2 apg).
• Samson Aletan is first in the conference in blocks (1.5 bpg), and fifth in rebounds (6.1 rpg).
• Celiscar has reached double-digit scoring in 20 games this season.
• Celiscar has tallied double-doubles in back-to-back games, marking the fourth of his career.
• Mullin has scored in double figures in 13 games this season.
• Casey Simmons' three blocks against Penn matched his career best.
• Yale is riding a five-game winning streak.

Ivy League Champion Scenarios 

• Clinches at least a share of the Ivy league title on Friday with a win over Cornell AND if Princeton beats Harvard.
• Clinches at least a share of the Ivy League title on Saturday with wins over Cornell and Columbia AND if Harvard beats Princeton and Penn.
• Clinches at least a share of the Ivy League title on Saturday with losses against Cornell and Columbia AND if Harvard loses against Princeton and Penn.
• Clinches the Ivy League title outright on Saturday with wins over Cornell and Columbia AND if Harvard loses to either Princeton or Penn.

 
Season Notes

• Townsend tallied his 1,000th career point and 500th career rebound on Jan. 30.
• Townsend was named Ivy League Player of the Week on Jan. 20.
• 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 425th 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.

 
Scouting Cornell

• The Big Red enters the matchup fourth in the Ivy League standings with an overall record of 12-12 (5-6 Ivy).
• Cornell is coming off a 73-54 loss to Harvard on Saturday.
• In the loss, the Crimson held the Big Red to a season-low 54 points.
• Harvard shot .556 after halftime and outscored Cornell 48-30 over the final 20 minutes to turn a one-point halftime edge into a comfortable victory.
• Cornell shot .364 for the game and struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 3-of-22 attempts. Anthony Nimani led the Big Red with 18 points off the bench, going 8-of-9 at the free throw line.
• Jake Fiegan and Cooper Noard each chipped in with 11 points.
• The Bulldogs and Big Red last met in New Haven on Jan. 17, with Yale securing a dominant 102-68 victory that saw five players score in double-figures.

 
Scouting Columbia

• The Lions enter the weekend sixth in the Ivy League standings with a 15-10 overall record (4-7 Ivy).
• Columbia is coming off a 64-63 loss to Dartmouth on Saturday.
• In the defeat, the Lions held a one-point lead with 16 seconds left, but the Big Green won it at the free throw line with three ticks left.
• Kenny Noland paced Columbia with 17 points, while Blair Thompson (13 points), Connor Igoe (12 points), and Mason Ritter (10 points) also tallied double figures.
• Noland is fourth in the Ivy League in scoring (16.8 ppg), and sixth in steals (1.2 spg).
• Yale and Columbia last met in New Haven on Jan. 19, with the Bulldogs winning 91-74.

 

Up Next
The Bulldogs will host Princeton for Senior Day on Saturday, Mar. 7 at 2 p.m.