In an exciting showdown on Sunday, Yale emerged victorious against Cornell with a 90-84 win, clinching the Ivy League Tournament championship and a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five seasons. This triumph was largely fueled by a standout performance from senior guard John Poulakidas, who came alive in the second half to spearhead the victory.
Poulakidas had a quiet first half, notching only two points and missing all four of his attempts from beyond the arc, yet Yale still managed a 37-32 lead at halftime. The second half saw him explode with energy, scoring eight points in a swift 90-second surge, including two crucial 3-pointers and a jumper that expanded Yale’s lead to a commanding 50-34 with just under 16 minutes remaining in the game.
Cornell, however, was not ready to back down. Key players like Guy Ragland Jr., Adam Hinton, and Nazir Williams quickly narrowed the gap with three 3-pointers in a little over a minute, pulling within seven points. Ragland’s additional long-range shots brought them even closer at 60-58 with 9:18 left on the clock. Yale responded with a critical offensive push as Bez Mbeng and Poulakidas each connected from beyond the arc, with Poulakidas extending the lead to 66-60. A three-point play by Cornell’s AK Okereke narrowed it again to a tight three-point difference.
Responding to the mounting pressure, Trevor Mullin and Poulakidas hit key 3-pointers, supplementing Nick Townsend’s contributions who scored twice during a pivotal 10-4 run, pushing Yale’s lead to 76-68 with five minutes to play.
Poulakidas concluded the game 8 of 14 in shooting, including an impressive 5-for-9 from the 3-point line and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. Townsend bolstered the effort with 19 points, four assists, and two steals. Meanwhile, Mbeng added a solid 15 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, with Casey Simmons contributing 13 points.
For Cornell, Okereke shone brightly, leading with 22 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Williams was flawless from the free-throw line, going 8-for-8 and scoring 20 points in total. Ragland supported with 16 points, hitting 4 of 6 from beyond the arc, and added seven rebounds to his performance, as Jake Fiegen chipped in with 11 points.
