NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Nick Townsend led the way with a team-high 17 points, one of four Bulldogs to reach double figures, as the Yale men's basketball team finished the regular season strong with a 78-53 victory over Princeton on Senior Day.
With the victory, the Bulldogs improved to 23-5 (11-3 Ivy) and clinched the outright Ivy League title. Princeton dropped to 9-20 (5-9 Ivy).
Turning Point
After Princeton cut the halftime deficit to just two points (32-30), the Bulldogs responded with a six-point surge, capped by a basket from
Samson Aletan, to push their lead to eight (38-30) with 18:19 remaining. A few minutes later, Yale continued to push the pace, scoring seven unanswered points to take a commanding 53-37 advantage at 12:09. The Bulldogs then went on another 7-0 run, highlighted by a
Jordan Brathwaite dunk, stretching the lead to 63-41 with 8:38 left in the game. Yale shot an impressive 56.7% (17-of-30) in the second half, reached their largest lead of the night at 78-49 with 2:09 remaining, and didn't look back.
Notable Performances
- Townsend scored 17 points on 4-of-7 shooting, was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line, and added seven rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
- Casey Simmons contributed 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting with three rebounds.
- Trevor Mullin recorded 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including 3-of-5 from three-point range, and made all three free throws.
- Aletan added 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, along with five rebounds, an assist, and a block.
- Isaac Celiscar chipped in eight points on 4-of-7 shooting, leading the team with nine rebounds and adding four assists, four steals, and a block.
- Brathwaite contributed seven points, dished out a team-high five assists, and recorded a block.
- Yale generated 23 points off Princeton turnovers, 27 points from the bench, and 32 points in the paint.
Hear from Coach Jones
- On the team's performance: "I thought we got off to a great start in the game. We got our 12-point lead, and then I thought we splintered a little bit as a group, which is dangerous, and it hurt us, and it helped Princeton climb back into the game. In the second half, we regrouped and did a better job defensively."
- On the senior class: "Their journeys they have had here have been nothing short of amazing. I told them in the locker room they're the winningest senior class in the history of Yale basketball. No one's won more games or a better percentage than these guys, or has been part of, and they've been in the thick of things the entire time. The guys have just done a great job at playing and being leaders, and understanding what it takes to be a Yale basketball player. There's a bright future for these young men, and they have left a lasting legacy on our program."
Bulldog Notes
- Townsend has reached double figures in scoring in 24 games this season.
- Simmons has posted double-digit points in each of the last eight games.
- Brathwaite set a career high with five assists.
- The title marks the eighth Ivy League title during the Jones era.
- 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' 23 victories this season tie the modern-era program record.
- Yale has reached 20 or more wins for four consecutive seasons.
- The 23-5 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.
Up Next
The No. 1 Bulldogs will face No. 4 Cornell in the Ivy Madness semifinals on Saturday, Mar. 14 at 11 a.m.
