Yale Bulldogs Advance to Ivy League Championship with Victory Over Cornell

In a highly anticipated semifinal matchup of the 2026 Ivy League Tournament, the Yale Bulldogs defeated the Cornell Big Red 88-76 at Newman Arena in Ithaca, New York. The victory propels Yale, the top seed, to the championship game against the third-seeded Penn Quakers, who narrowly defeated Harvard in the other semifinal.

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Isaac Celiscar led the Bulldogs with a standout performance, scoring 27 points on 12-of-16 shooting, along with six rebounds and three blocks. Trevor Mullin contributed significantly with 21 points, while Nick Townsend added 15 points, five rebounds, and six assists. For Cornell, Jake Fiegen was the top scorer with 23 points, supported by Jacob Beccles, who recorded 18 points and eight rebounds, and Adam Tsang Hinton with 14 points.

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Yale took control of the game early, establishing a lead that they maintained throughout. The Bulldogs led 49-42 at halftime, with Celiscar scoring 14 points in the first half. In the second half, Yale extended their lead to 81-68, fueled by a 9-0 scoring run. Despite a late push from Cornell, which cut the deficit to five points with just over a minute remaining, Yale sealed the victory with a series of free throws.

Yale stormed into the Ivy League final with 55% shooting

This win marks Yale's sixth consecutive appearance in the Ivy League championship game, where they will seek to secure their third consecutive title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs have been a dominant force in the Ivy League, having won four of the last five tournament titles since the event's inception in 2017.

Yale stormed into the Ivy League final with 55% shooting

Cornell, hosting the tournament for the first time, ends its season with a record of 15-13. The Big Red had previously defeated Yale in a close matchup on February 27, 2026, which added to the stakes of this semifinal.

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Yale head coach James Jones praised his team's performance, stating, “We did a great job dominating the boards... Trevor got us started off right offensively, and Isaac was steady throughout the game.” He acknowledged Cornell's strong start but emphasized Yale's ability to respond effectively.

New York Post

Cornell's head coach Jon Jaques expressed disappointment but noted the team's effort, saying, “We played a heck of a game... we were shooting 89% at one point.” He highlighted the challenges faced by his team in the second half.

Yale downs Cornell, reaches fifth consecutive Ivy League championship

The championship game is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, at noon ET, where Yale will face Penn, who edged out Harvard 62-60 in the other semifinal. The winner will earn the Ivy League's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, adding further significance to this matchup.

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