- John Poulakidas scores 23 points with five clutch second-half three-pointers
- Yale claims fourth NCAA Tournament berth in the last five seasons
- Bulldogs survive late Cornell rally led by AK Okereke's 22 points
- Ivy League Tournament championship marks Yale's third conference title this decade
In a high-stakes Ivy League Tournament final that showcased college basketball's rising parity, Yale demonstrated why experience matters in March. Senior guard John Poulakidas shook off a scoreless first half from beyond the arc to drain five critical three-pointers after intermission, fueling the Bulldogs' 90-84 victory over Cornell at Providence's historic arena. The win secures Yale's fourth NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019, cementing the program as the Ivy League's modern dynasty.
The championship game followed a familiar script for Yale fans. After trailing 37-32 at halftime, Poulakidas erupted with eight points in 90 seconds early in the second half, including two deep threes that ignited a 13-2 run. His offensive explosion mirrored the Bulldogs' season-long trend of second-half adjustments - Yale ranks 11th nationally in post-halftime scoring differential (+5.8 PPG).
Cornell refused to fold, answering with a 21-10 surge powered by Guy Ragland Jr.'s four three-pointers. When Big Red forward AK Okereke converted a three-point play to cut Yale's lead to 66-63 with 8:42 remaining, the Bulldogs turned to their championship pedigree. Sophomore Nick Townsend scored six points during a decisive 10-4 response run, showcasing the program's balanced attack that features four double-digit scorers.
Modern basketball analytics played a subtle role in Yale's triumph. The Bulldogs' 10 three-pointers (38.5% accuracy) exceeded their season average of 7.8 makes per game, while Cornell's 11 threes marked their third-highest output this season. This three-point barrage aligns with NCAA trends - teams attempting 25+ threes per game have increased 17% since 2020 according to NCAA statistics.
For Cornell (18-11), the loss extends the Ivy League's most painful NCAA drought. Despite three 20-win seasons since their last tournament appearance in 2010, the Big Red remain hindered by the conference's lack of at-large bids. Yale's victory reinforces the Ivy's single-bid reality - no conference team has received an at-large invitation since Princeton in 1998.
The Bulldogs' sustained success offers a blueprint for mid-major consistency. Head coach James Jones, now in his 25th season, has prioritized defensive versatility (Yale forces 14.2 turnovers/game) and international recruiting (three rotation players from overseas). This model has produced four NCAA wins since 2016, including a 2022 first-round upset of Purdue.
As Yale prepares for Selection Sunday, bracketologists project the Bulldogs as a likely 12-seed - a dangerous position historically responsible for 23% of 5/12 upsets since 2010. With Poulakidas' March-ready scoring prowess and the Ivy League's best defense (67.8 PPG allowed), this veteran squad could extend New England's recent NCAA success following UConn's 2023 championship run.