Ivy League Tournament Semifinals: Yale Advances to Championship

The 2026 Ivy League Tournament semifinals took place on March 14, 2026, at Newman Arena in Ithaca, New York, featuring two matchups: top-seeded Yale against fourth-seeded Cornell, and third-seeded Penn facing second-seeded Harvard. Yale emerged victorious over Cornell with an 88-76 win, while Penn triumphed over Harvard in a closely contested overtime game, winning 62-60. Both teams will compete for the Ivy League championship on March 15, 2026.

USA TodayYale stormed into the Ivy League final with 55% shootingSurvive and Advance: Levine's OT Winner Pushes Men's Hoops Past Harvard, 62-60

Yale, with a regular-season record of 23-5 and an 11-3 conference mark, showcased its strength against Cornell. The Bulldogs were led by sophomore Isaac Celiscar, who scored a career-high 27 points, along with Trevor Mullin contributing 21 points. Yale maintained a strong shooting performance, finishing at 54.7% from the field and outscoring Cornell 46-34 in the paint. The Bulldogs took control early and held a 49-42 lead at halftime, ultimately sealing the game with a decisive 9-0 run in the second half.

Yale stormed into the Ivy League final with 55% shootingFinger Lakes 1Yale downs Cornell, reaches fifth consecutive Ivy League championshipCeliscar scores 27 as Yale downs Cornell 88-76 in Ivy League Tournament semifinals

Cornell, despite a strong start and a shooting percentage of 64.3% in the first half, struggled in the second, finishing with a total of 15-13 for the season. Jake Fiegen led the Big Red with 23 points, while Jacob Beccles added 18 points and eight rebounds.

Finger Lakes 1

In the second semifinal, Penn faced Harvard in a nail-biting overtime match. The Quakers, who improved to 17-11, were led by TJ Power, who scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. AJ Levine's layup with just six seconds remaining in overtime secured the victory for Penn. The game was marked by a back-and-forth battle, with Harvard initially leading in the second half before Penn rallied to tie the game and force overtime. Tey Barbour led Harvard with 16 points, but the Crimson's season ended at 17-12.

Harvard CrimsonSurvive and Advance: Levine's OT Winner Pushes Men's Hoops Past Harvard, 62-60No. 1 Yale, No. 3 Penn Set For Ivy Madness Men's Title Game

With their respective victories, Yale and Penn will compete in the Ivy League championship game, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Yale aims for its third consecutive Ivy League title, while Penn seeks its first championship since 2018. The championship game is scheduled for March 15, 2026, at noon ET, and will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Survive and Advance: Levine's OT Winner Pushes Men's Hoops Past Harvard, 62-60USA TodayYale stormed into the Ivy League final with 55% shootingNo. 1 Yale, No. 3 Penn Set For Ivy Madness Men's Title Game

Yale's head coach, James Jones, praised his team's performance, stating, “We know what this is, tonight we didn’t come in with many jitters.” Meanwhile, Penn's head coach, Fran McCaffery, expressed pride in his team's resilience, highlighting their ability to overcome adversity in a tightly contested match against Harvard.

Harvard Crimson

• “Both teams competed very hard and played tough defense, and I just give all the credit in the world to their team and their coaching staff,” — Tommy Amaker, Head Coach, Harvard

Harvard Crimson

The championship game between Yale and Penn promises to be an exciting matchup, with both teams vying for the Ivy League title and a spot in the NCAA Tournament. As the tournament progresses, the stakes continue to rise, showcasing the competitive spirit of Ivy League basketball.

USA TodayYale stormed into the Ivy League final with 55% shootingSurvive and Advance: Levine's OT Winner Pushes Men's Hoops Past Harvard, 62-60