Ivy League does it again as No. 13 seed Yale takes down No. 4 seed Auburn 78-76
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) A year ago, Yale's John Poulakidas and August Mahoney were stuck at home watching the Ivy League champion make a magical NCAA Tournament run.
The two Bulldogs wanted a taste of what that was like. Given the opportunity on Friday, they helped Yale become the latest Ivy League champion to bust some March Madness brackets.
Poulakidas scored 28 points, Samson Aletan made a key block during a wild scramble in the final seconds, and 13th-seeded Yale rallied in the final five minutes to take down No. 4 seed Auburn 78-76 in the first round on Friday.
For the second straight year, the Ivy League Tournament champion took down one of the pre-tournament favorites. Last year it was Princeton toppling Arizona.
This time, it was Yale's turn.
“Princeton made the Sweet 16 last year and we were at home, they beat us in the championship, and each and every one of the guys in the locker room were just itching to get our opportunity,” Mahoney said. “Our opportunity presented itself. We know how good we are, so we believed.”
The Bulldogs (23-9) won an NCAA Tournament game for the second time in school history, rallying from a 10-point deficit midway through the second half. After the final seconds ticked off, the players celebrated on the scorer's table in front of their fans.
Yale will face No. 5 seed San Diego State in the second round on Sunday.
“It’s a great opportunity to be here. I think after I hit my first couple shots, obviously the flood gates opened," Poulakidas said. “But I’m just so glad that we had this opportunity first and could capitalize on it tonight.”
Poulakidas hit big shot after big shot. His step-back 3-pointer with 2:10 left gave the Bulldogs a 73-72 lead. Yale never trailed again, despite a chaotic final stretch that included Auburn getting off two shots in the closing seconds following a missed free throw, one of which was rejected by Aletan.
Auburn’s K.D. Johnson had a contested look for a winning 3-pointer at the buzzer that was offline.
Johni Broome led Auburn (27-8) with 24 points and 13 rebounds, but he was crumpled on the court after the loss. It looked as if he might have injured his right knee in the final scrum. Auburn coach Bruce Pearl was uncertain when asked about the severity of the injury.
Auburn also played most of the game without starting wing Chad Baker-Mazara after he was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul in the opening minutes. Pearl agreed it was a flagrant, but didn't believe it should have been raised to the level of an ejection.
“It was inappropriate. Clearly a Flagrant 1. The fact that it was elevated to a Flagrant 2 was a decision that the official had to make, but it obviously had tremendous impact on the outcome,” Pearl said.
Auburn rolled through the SEC Tournament last week and became a favored pick as a team that could take down No. 1 overall seed UConn should the pair end up clashing in the Sweet 16.
But the Tigers failed to get out the first round and joined fellow SEC schools South Carolina, Kentucky, Florida and Mississippi State amid the early departures from March Madness.
Auburn led 68-58 with 7:27 left after Denver Jones hit a 3-pointer, but the Tigers were outscored 20-8 the rest of the way. Auburn did itself no favors by missing five free throws in the final 3½ minutes.
Yale's rally started with a 3-pointer from Bez Mbeng, a 24% shooter from beyond the arc this season. Poulakidas hit a couple of jumpers and Dustin Wolf’s free throws pulled Yale even at 70-70.
Broome scored for Auburn but Poulakidas answered with his 3 and the Bulldogs made 5 of 6 free throws in the final minute.
Mahoney added 14 points and Wolf finished with 13 before fouling out late.
“I don’t know if that’s the best win in Yale basketball history, but I will tell you that’s the best basketball team that we’ve beaten in Yale basketball history, as far as I’m concerned,” Yale coach James Jones said.
Jones scored 17 for Auburn and Jaylin Williams added 13, but the Tigers clearly missed Baker-Mazara Replays showed that Baker-Mazara appeared to throw an elbow toward Mahoney as the pair ran downcourt and officials had a lengthy review before announcing the ejection.
UP NEXT
For the second straight year, a No. 13 seed will try to take down San Diego State in the second round. Last year Furman fell short in its attempt to knock off the Aztecs.
---
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Danny Wolf vs. Johni Broome (Chad Baker-Mazara gains possession) | |||
19:46 | Danny Wolf shooting foul (Johni Broome draws the foul) | |||
19:46 | +1 | Johni Broome makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 0-1 | |
19:46 | +1 | Johni Broome makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 0-2 | |
19:17 | John Poulakidas offensive foul (Aden Holloway draws the foul) | |||
19:17 | John Poulakidas turnover (offensive foul) | |||
19:10 | +3 | Denver Jones makes three point jump shot (Johni Broome assists) | 0-5 | |
18:38 | +2 | John Poulakidas makes two point jump shot | 2-5 | |
18:17 | Aden Holloway misses three point jump shot | |||
18:15 | Johni Broome offensive rebound | |||
18:12 | +2 | Johni Broome makes two point layup | 2-7 | |
17:55 | Jaylin Williams blocks Matt Knowling's two point jump shot | |||
17:53 | Matt Knowling offensive rebound | |||
17:53 | Danny Wolf misses two point jump shot | |||
17:51 | Chad Baker-Mazara defensive rebound | |||
17:42 | +3 | Johni Broome makes three point jump shot (Chad Baker-Mazara assists) | 2-10 | |
17:23 | +2 | August Mahoney makes two point jump shot (Danny Wolf assists) | 4-10 | |
17:23 | Jaylin Williams shooting foul (August Mahoney draws the foul) | |||
17:23 | +1 | August Mahoney makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 5-10 | |
17:11 | John Poulakidas blocks Johni Broome's two point layup | |||
17:09 | Matt Knowling defensive rebound | |||
17:05 | Bez Mbeng turnover (lost ball) (Aden Holloway steals) | |||
17:01 | K.D. Johnson misses two point layup | |||
16:59 | Johni Broome offensive rebound | |||
16:59 | +2 | Johni Broome makes two point layup | 5-12 | |
16:59 | Official timeout | |||
16:59 | Chad Baker-Mazara flagrant 2 (August Mahoney draws the foul) | |||
16:59 | +1 | August Mahoney makes flagrant free throw 1 of 2 | 6-12 | |
16:59 | +1 | August Mahoney makes flagrant free throw 2 of 2 | 7-12 | |
16:41 | Danny Wolf misses two point layup | |||
16:39 | Johni Broome defensive rebound | |||
16:20 | Johni Broome misses three point jump shot | |||
16:18 | Bez Mbeng defensive rebound | |||
16:04 | Chaney Johnson personal foul (Danny Wolf draws the foul) | |||
15:57 | +3 | John Poulakidas makes three point jump shot (Danny Wolf assists) | 10-12 | |
15:39 | Chaney Johnson misses two point layup | |||
15:37 | August Mahoney defensive rebound | |||
15:26 | Danny Wolf misses three point jump shot | |||
15:24 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
15:24 | Chaney Johnson personal foul (Danny Wolf draws the foul) | |||
15:24 | TV timeout | |||
15:24 | Bez Mbeng turnover (bad pass) (Chris Moore steals) | |||
15:19 | +2 | Jaylin Williams makes two point dunk (Chris Moore assists) | 10-14 | |
14:58 | Dylan Cardwell personal foul (Danny Wolf draws the foul) | |||
14:57 | Danny Wolf misses three point jump shot | |||
14:55 | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | |||
14:39 | +2 | K.D. Johnson makes two point jump shot | 10-16 | |
14:11 | +3 | John Poulakidas makes three point jump shot | 13-16 | |
14:11 | Chris Moore personal foul (John Poulakidas draws the foul) | |||
14:11 | John Poulakidas misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
14:11 | John Poulakidas offensive rebound | |||
14:06 | +3 | August Mahoney makes three point jump shot (John Poulakidas assists) | 16-16 | |
13:45 | Tre Donaldson misses two point jump shot | |||
13:43 | Nick Townsend defensive rebound | |||
13:30 | Tre Donaldson personal foul (Nick Townsend draws the foul) | |||
13:30 | +1 | Nick Townsend makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 17-16 | |
13:30 | +1 | Nick Townsend makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-16 | |
13:17 | Dylan Cardwell turnover (bad pass) (Samson Aletan steals) | |||
13:04 | Nick Townsend turnover (bad pass) | |||
12:51 | +2 | Denver Jones makes two point jump shot | 18-18 | |
12:34 | Samson Aletan turnover (bad pass) (Jaylin Williams steals) | |||
12:29 | +2 | Jaylin Williams makes two point dunk | 18-20 | |
12:04 | Dylan Cardwell personal foul (John Poulakidas draws the foul) | |||
12:04 | +1 | John Poulakidas makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 19-20 | |
12:04 | John Poulakidas misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
12:04 | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | |||
11:49 | Casey Simmons shooting foul (Denver Jones draws the foul) | |||
11:49 | TV timeout | |||
11:49 | Denver Jones misses regular free throw 1 of 3 | |||
11:49 | +1 | Denver Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 19-21 | |
11:49 | +1 | Denver Jones makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 19-22 | |
11:19 | +2 | Matt Knowling makes two point jump shot | 21-22 | |
11:01 | +2 | Jaylin Williams makes two point layup | 21-24 | |
10:41 | John Poulakidas misses three point jump shot | |||
10:39 | Johni Broome defensive rebound | |||
10:23 | Johni Broome turnover (lost ball) (John Poulakidas steals) | |||
10:05 | August Mahoney misses three point jump shot | |||
10:03 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
9:57 | August Mahoney misses three point jump shot | |||
9:55 | Denver Jones defensive rebound | |||
9:42 | August Mahoney personal foul (Johni Broome draws the foul) | |||
9:37 | August Mahoney personal foul (K.D. Johnson draws the foul) | |||
9:33 | K.D. Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
9:31 | Danny Wolf defensive rebound | |||
9:22 | Danny Wolf misses two point jump shot | |||
9:20 | Johni Broome defensive rebound | |||
8:57 | Aden Holloway misses two point layup | |||
8:55 | Danny Wolf defensive rebound | |||
8:32 | +2 | Danny Wolf makes two point layup | 23-24 | |
8:06 | +2 | Johni Broome makes two point layup | 23-26 | |
7:29 | +2 | Matt Knowling makes two point jump shot (John Poulakidas assists) | 25-26 | |
7:12 | +2 | K.D. Johnson makes two point jump shot | 25-28 | |
7:12 | Yassine Gharram shooting foul (K.D. Johnson draws the foul) | |||
7:12 | TV timeout | |||
7:12 | +1 | K.D. Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 25-29 | |
7:12 | Bulldogs turnover (5-second violation) | |||
6:57 | Aden Holloway turnover (lost ball) (John Poulakidas steals) | |||
6:46 | Bez Mbeng misses two point layup | |||
6:44 | Aden Holloway defensive rebound | |||
6:39 | Aden Holloway misses three point jump shot | |||
6:37 | Bez Mbeng defensive rebound | |||
6:26 | Bez Mbeng turnover (bad pass) (Johni Broome steals) | |||
6:22 | +2 | Johni Broome makes two point dunk | 25-31 | |
6:22 | Bulldogs 30 second timeout | |||
6:22 | TV timeout | |||
5:52 | Danny Wolf misses two point layup | |||
5:50 | Johni Broome defensive rebound | |||
5:45 | Denver Jones misses three point jump shot | |||
5:43 | Chris Moore offensive rebound | |||
5:37 | Johni Broome misses two point layup | |||
5:36 | Bulldogs defensive rebound | |||
5:32 | +2 | Yassine Gharram makes two point layup (Matt Knowling assists) | 27-31 | |
5:04 | Aden Holloway misses three point jump shot | |||
5:02 | Matt Knowling defensive rebound | |||
4:54 | Denver Jones personal foul (Matt Knowling draws the foul) | |||
4:54 | Matt Knowling misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
4:54 | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | |||
4:29 | +2 | Dylan Cardwell makes two point dunk (Tre Donaldson assists) | 27-33 | |
4:02 | +2 | Yassine Gharram makes two point layup (Danny Wolf assists) | 29-33 | |
3:47 | +3 | Tre Donaldson makes three point jump shot | 29-36 | |
3:28 | Danny Wolf misses two point layup | |||
3:26 | Dylan Cardwell defensive rebound | |||
3:15 | K.D. Johnson misses two point jump shot | |||
3:13 | Matt Knowling defensive rebound | |||
3:05 | +3 | John Poulakidas makes three point jump shot (Matt Knowling assists) | 32-36 | |
2:46 | Jaylin Williams offensive foul (Yassine Gharram draws the foul) | |||
2:46 | Jaylin Williams turnover (offensive foul) | |||
2:46 | TV timeout | |||
2:32 | Matt Knowling misses two point jump shot | |||
2:30 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
2:30 | Denver Jones personal foul (August Mahoney draws the foul) | |||
2:30 | +1 | August Mahoney makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 33-36 | |
2:30 | +1 | August Mahoney makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 34-36 | |
2:21 | August Mahoney shooting foul (Denver Jones draws the foul) | |||
2:21 | +1 | Denver Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 34-37 | |
2:21 | +1 | Denver Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 34-38 | |
2:04 | Yassine Gharram turnover (bad pass) (Johni Broome steals) | |||
1:45 | Johni Broome turnover (bad pass) (Bez Mbeng steals) | |||
1:17 | John Poulakidas misses two point jump shot | |||
1:15 | Johni Broome defensive rebound | |||
0:54 | K.D. Johnson misses two point layup | |||
0:52 | Johni Broome offensive rebound | |||
0:46 | +2 | Chaney Johnson makes two point dunk | 34-40 | |
0:46 | Danny Wolf shooting foul (Chaney Johnson draws the foul) | |||
0:46 | +1 | Chaney Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 34-41 | |
0:38 | Bez Mbeng misses two point layup | |||
0:36 | Samson Aletan offensive rebound | |||
0:35 | Samson Aletan misses two point layup | |||
0:33 | Johni Broome defensive rebound | |||
0:10 | Chaney Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
0:08 | Bulldogs defensive rebound | |||
0:02 | Bez Mbeng turnover (lost ball) (Chris Moore steals) | |||
0:00 | End of period |