Cornell Upsets Yale with Last-Second Three-Pointer

On February 23, 2024, the Cornell Big Red achieved a significant upset by defeating the Yale Bulldogs 72-69 in a tightly contested Ivy League matchup. The victory was marked by a dramatic go-ahead three-pointer from Jake Fiegen, who scored 17 points and contributed eight rebounds. This win was particularly notable as it ended Cornell's five-game losing streak against Yale, with their last victory over the Bulldogs occurring nearly a year prior.

ESPNJake Fiegen hits game-winning 3-pointer as Cornell wins 72-69 over YaleHinton hits game-winner as Harvard takes down Princeton 58-56Power's 38 points, 12 rebounds lead Pennsylvania past Dartmouth 80-71Columbia beats Brown 80-62

Cornell's performance was bolstered by Cooper Noard, who added 16 points, and Josh Baldwin, who contributed 13 points on an efficient shooting night. The Big Red shot 14-of-35 from three-point range, with a strong start that saw them lead by as many as 14 points. Yale, however, fought back to tie the game at 69 with just seven seconds remaining, thanks to a layup from Nick Townsend.

ESPN

With this victory, Cornell improved its record to 13-12 overall and 6-6 in Ivy League play, positioning itself in fourth place in the standings. The top four teams qualify for the Ivy Madness tournament, which offers an automatic NCAA tournament bid to the winner. Yale, despite the loss, remains a strong contender with a record of 21-5 and 9-3 in the league, but the defeat snapped their five-game winning streak.

ESPN

Yale coach James Jones acknowledged the team's struggle to start games effectively, stating, "It's great that the guys were able to fight back and get back into it, but we've got to do a better job of starting each half." This sentiment reflects the challenges Yale faced in maintaining their early-season momentum.

ESPN

While Cornell celebrated its victory, the loss raised concerns for Yale regarding their performance consistency. Critics pointed out that despite their strong record, the Bulldogs need to address their slow starts to remain competitive in the upcoming tournament.

ESPN

As the Ivy League season progresses, both teams will look to solidify their standings. Cornell aims to secure a spot in the Ivy Madness tournament with two games remaining, while Yale will seek to rebound quickly to maintain their position at the top of the league.

ESPN

• “We started out lousy in three of our last four games and put ourselves in a hole that we had to dig out of,” — James Jones, Yale Coach

ESPN

This match not only showcased the competitive spirit of Ivy League basketball but also highlighted the unpredictability of college sports, where any team can emerge victorious on any given night.

ESPN