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Penn Quakers Clinch NCAA Bid with Overtime Win

3/16/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Penn Quakers defeated Yale 88-84 in overtime in the Ivy League championship in Ithaca, New York.
They earned their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018 under first-year coach Fran McCaffery.
TJ Power scored a record-breaking 44 points, including two crucial three-pointers in the final seconds of regulation to tie the game.
Cam Thrower contributed 19 points.
Yale's Trevor Mullin scored 22 points.

History

Historical Context

The Penn Quakers last reached the NCAA Tournament in 2018 after winning the Ivy League Championship, defeating Harvard 68-65 at the Palestra. This marked a significant revival for the program under coach Fran McCaffery. The recent Ivy League championship victory, highlighted by TJ Power's record 44 points, signals a resurgence in Ivy League basketball and may enhance recruitment efforts moving forward.

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Story summary

The Penn Quakers defeated Yale 88-84 in overtime in the Ivy League championship in Ithaca, New York.
They earned their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018 under first-year coach Fran McCaffery.
TJ Power scored a record-breaking 44 points, including two crucial three-pointers in the final seconds of regulation to tie the game.
Cam Thrower contributed 19 points.
Yale's Trevor Mullin scored 22 points.

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