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A massive blunder by the Yale Bulldogs men’s basketball team in the Ivy League tournament final ended up costing them a March Madness bid.
It was a thrilling second half that ultimately needed extra time to determine a champion as Penn’s TJ Power hit a game-tying 3-pointer with one second left to force overtime. It gave the Quakers star 40 points and kept their season alive as the No. 1 seed Bulldogs tried to hold off their conference foe.
But the Quakers were able to come away with the 88-84 upset victory, marking the school’s first NCAA Tournament bid since 2018.
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Penn Quakers forward TJ Power (12) shoots the ball over Providence Friars guard Jaylin Sellers (2) during the second half at Amica Mutual Pavilion on Nov. 11, 2025. (Eric Canha/Imagn Images)
However, that didn’t seem to be the case as Power made it 86-81 when he hit two free throws to give him a total of 44 points with just 17 seconds left in overtime. The Bulldogs were expected to begin fouling the Quakers on purpose, not to allow them to break the five-point lead Yale owned.
It’s common for at least a three-point lead to foul late in the game, but Yale’s Casey Simmons let the Power run down the court and get the chance to tie the game in the final seconds. Power didn’t waste the opportunity.
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Using their momentum, the Quakers, fresh off a close win over No. 2 Harvard to advance to the Ivy League Tournament final, topped the Bulldogs 13-9, with Power a key component in the end. Cam Thrower’s three-pointer with 1:59 left in overtime also gave Penn a four-point lead it would never relinquish.
Penn Quakers forward TJ Power (12) goes to the basket against Rutgers Scarlet Knights forward Bryce Dortch (4) in the first half at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Dec. 20, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
When Michael Zanoni hit both of his free throws with seven seconds left, it was an ice-cold victory for the Quakers, who will now be focused on No. 3 Illinois after entering March Madness as the No. 14 seed.
Power, who played at Duke and Virginia before transferring to Penn, finished with 44 points on 14-of-26 shooting, including 7-of-14 three-pointers. He had 14 rebounds for a double-double while also dishing out two assists and picking up a steal and a blocked shot.
Thrower finished the game with 19 points, going an efficient 6-of-10 from the field and grabbing four rebounds.
For Yale, they will have to think about what if until next season – the unfortunate other side of March Madness. That’s especially the case considering that Trevor Mullin’s final move to win the game hit from the back of the net across the pitch to confirm that extra time was needed for these two rivals.
Penn Quakers forward TJ Power (12) looks to pass in the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Dec. 20, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
Sometimes it’s heroism. Other times, it’s head-scratching blunders that help decide who goes to the dance and who goes home.
