Princeton tops Yale 74-65 to win Ivy League championship
Yale forward EJ Jarvis (15) looks for help against Princeton guard Matt Allocco (14) and forward Zach Martini (54) during the first half of the Ivy League championship NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, March 12, 2023, in Princeton, N.J. Credit: AP/Noah K. Murray
PRINCETON, N.J. — Tosan Evbuomwan scored 21 points, Caden Pierce added a double-double and Princeton beat Yale 74-65 on Sunday to win the Ivy League Tournament and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
No. 2 seed Princeton's victory ends top-seeded Yale's three-year run as league champion. The Tigers will be making their 26th appearance in the Big Dance and their first since 2017. Yale beat Princeton 66-64 in last season's championship game.
Evbuomwan sank 8 of 14 shots from the floor with a 3-pointer for the Tigers (21-8). He added five rebounds and four assists. Pierce, the Ivy League's freshman of year, finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. It was his seventh double-double of the season. Matt Allocco pitched in with 15 points and seven boards, while Ryan Langborg had 14 points and four assists.
Sophomore Bez Mbeng paced the Bulldogs (21-8) with 18 points and six rebounds. Matt Knowling, who led the Ivy with a shooting percentage of 63%, scored 14 off the bench on 6-of-7 shooting. August Mahoney hit three 3-pointers and scored 13.
Evbuomwan buried a 3-pointer to cap a 12-0 run to start the game for Princeton. Mahoney answered with a 3-pointer for Yale, sparking an 11-0 spurt that pulled the Bulldogs within a point with 11:11 left in the first half.
Mahoney hit another 3-pointer, Knowling followed with a layup and Yale took its first lead 25-23 at the 3:32 mark. Pierce made two 3-pointers and a layup from there to give Princeton a 33-29 lead at halftime.
The Tigers pushed their lead to double digits — 51-41 — on Evbuomwan's jumper with 12:41 left in the game. Mbeng hit a 3-pointer to pull Yale within 59-56 at the 3:30 mark. Allocco and Mbeng traded baskets, but Princeton scored its final 13 points at the free-throw line over the final 1:50 to close out the victory.
Yale John Poulakidas (4) defends against Princeton forward Caden Pierce (12) during the first half of the Ivy League championship NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, March 12, 2023, in Princeton, N.J. Credit: AP/Noah K. Murray
Princeton shot 40% from the floor, made 9 of 23 from 3-point range (39%) and 19 of 24 foul shots. Yale shot 44% overall, made 8 of 22 from distance (36%) and 13 of 19 free throws.
Yale beat Princeton twice during the regular season.