In a thrilling Ivy League Tournament Championship Game, Yale pulled off a remarkable comeback against Brown, securing a 62-61 victory. The game reached its climax when Yale’s forward, Matt Knowling, delivered a game-winning shot right at the final buzzer. This victory was especially significant as the No. 2 seed Bulldogs were trailing by six points with only 27 seconds left on the clock, making their rally to win an astonishing feat. This denied the No. 4 seed Bears their chance at their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1986.
Under the guidance of coach James Jones, the Bulldogs are set to make their appearance in the Big Dance for the second time in the last three years. This marks Coach Jones’ fourth appearance in the NCAA Tournament over his 24 seasons at the helm of Yale’s basketball program.
The game’s turning point came in the final minute when Yale’s Bez Mbeng completed a 3-point play, narrowing the gap to just three points with 22 seconds remaining. Brown’s subsequent misses on three of their four free throws left the door wide open for Yale. In the final moments, Mbeng found Knowling open near the basket. Knowling managed to get his shot off just in time, securing the win for Yale and sparking jubilant celebrations among his teammates. This victory not only highlighted Yale’s resilience but also put an end to Brown’s impressive turnaround story, which saw them winning streaks that could have extended to eight with a win on Sunday.