Bulldogs upended in Ivy title game

PHILADELPHIA >> For four games this month, a time when any team with March Madness aspirations needs to be peaking, Yale was playing some of its best basketball of the season, including an extraordinary win over Harvard on Saturday and right through the first half of Sunday’s inaugural Ivy League championship game.

The Bulldogs simply couldn’t overcome those final 20 minutes, and it cost them a second successive berth in the NCAA tournament.

Princeton, as tenacious defensively as they come, limited Yale’s opportunities while catching fire from behind the 3-point arc to pull away in the second half of its 71-59 victory Sunday at the Palestra.

It was the 19th consecutive win for the Tigers (23-6), a streak dating back to a Dec. 20 loss to Monmouth and includes a perfect run through the Ivy League season. They’ll make their 26th NCAA tournament appearance, and first since 2011.

While it’s a disappointing end the season, Yale (18-11) certainly exceeded expectations.

Four senior starts from last year’s Ivy champs, a team that stunned Baylor in the opening round of the NCAA tournament and nearly dethroned defending champion Duke, were lost, as was star guard Makai Mason to a broken foot in October.

That Yale, reliant on freshmen and career role players, came so close to a second straight titles speaks volumes about the current state of the program, and its bright future.

“I’m extremely proud of my team and where they got us this year,” Jones said. “Playing in this tournament and getting to 20 minutes to go and having a great opportunity to win it. They played really hard.”

After losing five straight games in February, Yale got itself back on track with a versatile offensive attack that featured different stars on a nightly basis. In Saturday’s win over Harvard, a game

the Bulldogs never trailed, they worked forward Sam Downey on the blocks while freshman Miye Oni mixed long-distance shooting with fierce drives to the basket.

Though Oni was quiet offensively, scoring only three points after his 18 against Harvard, the Bulldogs started fast on Sunday. The lead was seven late in the first half after dunks by Trey Phills and Jordan Bruner.

Princeton led by two at halftime, and methodically extended the lead over the final 20 minutes thanks to great outside shooting and tough defense.

Sophomore forward Myles Stephens (23 points), the tournament’s most outstanding player, hit all five of his shots, including two 3-pointers, in the second half. He was also at the heart of a fierce Princeton defensive charge, which limited Yale’s looks inside the paint and kept them from uncontested shots on long-range shots.

“Up until today, we’d shot the ball well. Today we had an off night shooting,

Jones said. “The quick turnaround for the game, when you think about it, (Princeton) is a little bit fresher. That makes somewhat of a difference in terms of making shots. I’m not making excuses but it’s a tough turnaround and you have to fight through those things. We didn’t do a great job making shots. That was a huge difference for us.

“Princeton does a great job defending and switching and forcing you to make one-on-one plays, which makes it difficult for your offense.”

Yale’s season is finished. The Bulldogs did not receive an invitation to the NIT and the team said after the Princeton loss it would not participate in any other postseason events.