Yale’s fouling blunder costs team March Madness bid in Ivy League final
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The Yale Bulldogs men’s basketball team’s big mistake in the Ivy League Tournament final cost them a March Madness bid.
It was an exciting second half that needed extra time to decide the champion when Penn’s TJ Power hit the game-tying 3-pointer with one second remaining in overtime. It earned the Quakers star 40 points and kept the season alive as the No. 1 seed Bulldogs looked to keep their conference foes at bay.
However, the Quakers were able to come away with an 88-84 upset victory, marking the school’s first NCAA Tournament bid since 2018.
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Penn Quakers forward TJ Power (12) throws the ball over Providence Friars guard Jaylin Sellers (2) during the second half at Amica Mutual Pavilion on Nov. 11, 2025. (Eric Canha/Imagn Images)
But that didn’t seem to be the case, Power made two free throws to make the score 86-81 and score a total of 44 points with just 17 seconds left in overtime. The Bulldogs were expected to start deliberately fouling the Quakers to deny them the opportunity to chip away at the five-point lead Yale held.
It’s common for a lead of at least three points to result in a foul late in the game, but Yale’s Casey Simmons allowed Power to drive down the court and have a chance to tie the game in the final seconds. The Force did not waste this opportunity.
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The Quakers used their momentum to advance to the Ivy League Tournament final with a close win over No. 2 Harvard, eventually outscoring the Bulldogs 13-9, with power being a key component. Additionally, Cam Thrower’s three-pointer with 1:59 remaining in overtime gave Penn a four-point lead that would never be relinquished.
Penn Quakers forward TJ Power (12) drives to the basket against Rutgers Scarlet Knights forward Bryce Dortch (4) during the first half at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Dec. 20, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
Michael Zanoni made both free throws with seven seconds remaining, freezing the Quakers’ victory; The Quakers will now focus on No. 3 Illinois after being ranked No. 14 in March Madness.
Power, who played at Duke and Virginia before transferring to Penn, finished the game with 44 points on 14-of-26 shooting, including 7-of-14 three-pointers. The player, who had a double-double with 14 rebounds, also made two assists, a steal and a block.
Thrower finished the match with 19 points, an effective 6/10 score and 4 rebounds.
For Yale, it’s not until next season that they’ll have to think about the “what ifs,” the unfortunate flip side of March Madness. This is especially the case considering Trevor Mullin’s final drive to win the game hit the back rim at the other end of the court, confirming the need for overtime for these two opponents.
Penn Quakers forward TJ Power (12) looks to throw a pass in the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Dec. 20, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
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Sometimes it’s heroic. Other times, it’s confusing mistakes that help determine who goes to the dance and who goes home.
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