NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Coming off an overtime defeat in the Ivy League Tournament Championship game, the Yale men's basketball team looks to kick off NIT play on a high note, facing UNCW at John J. Lee Amphitheater on Tuesday, Mar. 17.
 
UNCW at No. 3 Yale
Tuesday, Mar. 17 – 7 p.m.
John J. Lee Amphitheater
New Haven, Conn.
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Last Time Out

• 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 Yale, 88–84, in the Ivy League Championship game.
• 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.
   

Bulldog Notes

• Five Bulldogs are averaging double-digit points: Nick Townsend (16.4 ppg), Celiscar (12.9 ppg), Mullin (11.7 ppg), Simmons (10.4 ppg), and Fox (10.3 ppg).
• Yale ranks third in the nation in three-point percentage (40.0), and 11^th in assist/turnover ratio (1.76).
• The Bulldogs are first in the Ivy League in team field goal percentage (49.6), and three-point field goal percentage (40.0).
• Townsend ranks ninth in the league in scoring (16.4 ppg), third in rebounding (7.4 rpg), first in three-point field goal percentage (47.3), and second in assists (4.3 apg).
• Celiscar is fifth in the Ivy League in rebounding (6.1 rpg), first in field goal percentage (57.1), and 10^th in assists (3.1 apg).
• Simmons is third in the league in field goal percentage (55.6).
• Aletan is second in the league in blocked shots (1.5 bpg).
• Jordan Brathwaite is fourth in the conference in three-point field goal percentage (44.6).
• Townsend has scored in double figures in 27 games this season.
• Mullin has tallied 20+ points in back-to-back games.
• The Bulldogs have recorded at least 10 Ivy League wins for the seventh consecutive season.
• Yale has secured a top-four finish in the Ivy League for an impressive 25 straight seasons.
• The Bulldogs' 24 victories this season are a modern-era program record.
• Yale has reached 20 or more wins for four consecutive seasons.
• The 24-6 record this season is the best during the Jones era.
• The 2025-26 senior class has guided the Bulldogs to three Ivy League regular-season titles, two Ivy League Tournament championships, and two NCAA tournament appearances, highlighted by the program's second NCAA tournament win in 2023-24 against Auburn.

 
Season Notes

• Mullin garnered Ivy League All-Tournament honors on Mar. 15.
• Jones was tabbed to the 2025-26 ABIS Watchlist on Mar. 13.
• Townsend was named a finalist for the Lou Henson Award on Mar. 12.
• Townsend was tabbed to the First-Team All-Ivy and Academic All-Ivy, Celiscar earned Second Team All-Ivy accolades, and Simmons earned Honorable Mention All-Ivy honors on Mar. 11.
• Jones and his staff garnered Ivy League Co-Coaching Staff of the Year, Simmons was named Defensive Player of the Year, and Townsend earned Player of the Year accolades on Mar. 11.
• Townsend was named a finalist for the Nolan Richardson Award on Mar. 10. 
• Simmons was tabbed a finalist for the Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year award on Mar. 10.
• Jones was named a finalist for the Hugh Durham Award on Mar. 5.
• Jones was tabbed a finalist for the Ben Jobe Award on Mar. 3. 
• Jones was named a finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award on Mar. 2.
• The Bulldogs clinched the Ivy League title and Ivy Madness No. 1 seed on Feb. 28.
• 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.
• 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 UNCW

• UNCW enters the matchup with a 26-6 overall record (15-3 CAA).
• The Seahawks are playing in the NIT for the third time after appearing in the 1998 and 2001 editions under Jerry Wainwright.
• UNCW will enter postseason play for the 12th time, all since 1998, and third time under head coach Takayo Siddle, who guided the school to the 2022 CBI Championship and a berth in last season's NCAA Tournament.
• UNCW closed the regular season with wins in seven of its last eight contests, outscoring opponents by 10.1 points over the span. Seven Seahawks averaged better than seven points, highlighted by a trio of Seahawks in double-digits: Patrick Wessler (13.8), Christian May (13.6) and Nolan Hodge (11.6)
• UNCW dropped an 85-70 contest in the CAA Quarterfinals to Campbell. Wessler and Madison Durr paced the Seahawks with 21 points apiece.
• Head coach Takayo Siddle was honored as the Coastal Athletic Association Coach of the Year, while senior guard Madison Durr claimed Sixth Man of the Year honors.
• Wessler became the 23rd Seahawk (third under Siddle) to earn All-CAA First Team honors, while senior leader Hodge's breakout campaign earned his status on the All-CAA Second Team.

 
Up Next
The second-round games will take place on Mar. 21 or Mar. 22.