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A big mistake made by the Yale Bulldogs men’s basketball team in the finals of the Ivy League tournament ended up costing them a bid to March Madness.
It was an exciting second half that ultimately needed overtime to find a winner, as Penn’s TJ Power hit a game-tying three-pointer with one second left to force overtime. It gave the Quakers star 40 points and kept his season alive as the top-seeded Bulldogs attempted to hold off their conference foe.
But the Quakers were able to emerge with the surprising 88-84 victory, marking the school’s first bid to the NCAA Tournament 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/Image Images)
However, that didn’t seem to be the case, as Power made the score 86-81 by hitting 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 intentionally, so as not to give them a chance to break Yale’s five-point lead.
It’s common for a lead of at least three points to lead to a foul late in the game, but Yale’s Casey Simmons let Power run down the court and had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds. The power did not waste the opportunity.
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Building on their momentum, the Quakers, fresh off a close victory over No. 2 Harvard to advance to the finals of the Ivy League tournament, topped the Bulldogs, 13-9, with Power being a key component in the end. Additionally, Cam Thrower’s 3-pointer with 1:59 left in overtime 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) during the first half at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Dec. 20, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
When Michael Zanoni made both of his free throws with seven seconds left, he iced the victory for the Quakers, who will now focus on No. 3 Illinois after entering March Madness as the 14th 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 3-pointers. He had 14 rebounds for a double-double, in addition to dishing out two assists and getting 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’ll have to think about what ifs until next season: the unfortunate flip side of March Madness. That’s especially the case considering Trevor Mullin’s final attempt to win the game hit the back rim on the other side of the court to confirm that overtime was necessary for these two rivals.
Penn Quakers forward TJ Power (12) looks to pass during the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Dec. 20, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
Sometimes, it’s heroics. Other times, it’s blunders that help determine who goes dancing and who goes home.
