ITHACA, N.Y. – Four Bulldogs finished in double figures, but TJ Power knocked down a contested game-tying three-pointer with fewer than four seconds remaining in regulation, helping Penn force overtime and eventually outlast the Yale men's basketball team, 88–84, in the Ivy League Championship game.
 
With the victory, the Quakers punched their ticket to March Madness and improved to 18-11 overall. The Bulldogs dropped to 24-6.
 
Yale's season will continue, as the Bulldogs secured an automatic berth in the NIT by earning the No. 1 seed in the league tournament. The 32-team field will be announced later Sunday.
 
Turning Point
After Power scored a layup for Penn to cut Yale's lead to 71–69 with 2:13 remaining, Trevor Mullin knocked down a pair of crucial free throws to give the Bulldogs a four-point advantage, 73–69, with 12 seconds left. The Quakers quickly answered with a jumper to pull within one, 73–72, but Mullin again delivered at the line, sinking two more free throws to extend Yale's lead to 75–72 with under 10 seconds remaining. Power then hit a contested three-pointer with four seconds left, forcing the game into overtime.
 
In overtime, the two teams traded baskets in a tightly contested stretch. A free throw from Samson Aletan followed by a dunk from Casey Simmons gave the Bulldogs a 78–77 lead with 3:21 remaining. The Quakers quickly responded with a 5–0 run to move ahead 82–78. Isaac Celiscar knocked down a three-pointer to pull the Bulldogs closer, but Penn answered with four straight points. Riley Fox drilled a three with 11 seconds remaining to make it 86–84, but Penn sealed the game by converting free throws down the stretch.
 
Notable Performances

• Power delivered a standout performance for Penn, scoring a game-high 44 points on 14-of-26 shooting, including 7-of-14 from three-point range and a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line, while adding 14 rebounds and two assists.
• Mullin led the Bulldogs with 22 points, went a flawless 8-of-8 from the free throw line, and contributed three rebounds, four assists, and a steal.
• Celiscar recorded 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and 2-of-2 from the free throw line, while grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds and dishing out five assists.
• Nick Townsend posted 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting, paired with seven rebounds, a team-high six assists, and two steals.
• Simmons added 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting, along with three rebounds and one assist.
• Yale dominated inside, scoring 40 points in the paint.
• In overtime, the Quakers shot 50% overall (2-of-4) and from three (1-of-2).

 
Hear from Coach Jones
"So, obviously that's a tough loss. First of all, I'd like to thank Cornell and the Ivy League for putting on a first-class venue and event. For us, very difficult, as I said—you're up by six points with 12 seconds to go—it's very difficult to do that. We had discussed fouling, and we decided not to do it, but all in all, that lies on my shoulders. I take the hit for not fouling at the end, to give them an opportunity to get the game into overtime. I'm very proud of my guys and how they battled all night long. It just so happens that, you know, in every single game we've lost this year, somebody has had to make a big three to beat us, and that's what it takes—our team is that good. Unfortunately, it was one of those games tonight."
 

Bulldog Notes

• Following his back-to-back 20+ point performances, Mullin was named to the Ivy Madness All-Tournament Team.
• Celiscar's double double was his fifth of the season.
• Townsend has scored in double figures in 27 games this season.
• Mullin's 20+ point performance was his fourth of the season.
• The championship loss was the Bulldogs' first since falling to Princeton in 2023 and only their third overall.

 
Up Next
The Bulldogs will await the NIT bracket that will be released at 9:30 p.m.