In a thrilling Ivy Championship game, Brown managed to score two baskets at the buzzer to secure a one-point victory over Yale. However, this loss ended Brown’s dream run in the conference championship and continued their NCAA tournament drought. With only 22 seconds left and down 60-54, Brown staged a remarkable comeback by scoring eight points to beat Yale 62-61 with a last-second shot.
The incredible finish saw Bez Mbeng kickstart the rally with an and-one play, cutting the deficit to 60-57. John Poulakidas then hit an open 3-pointer to bring Yale within one point with just 14 seconds remaining. Despite having a chance to extend their lead with two free throws, Brown missed both opportunities, allowing Matt Knowling to hit the game-winning floater at the buzzer.
Yale, the No. 2 seed, did not expect to face Brown in the final, but their underdog story of Brown’s season made it possible. After a slow start to the season, Brown turned things around with a seven-game winning streak that carried them through the Ivy semifinals against Princeton. Despite an overtime loss to Brown just days earlier, Yale managed to avoid another upset by securing the Ivy Championship with a buzzer-beater.
While Brown’s tournament hopes may have come to an end, their impressive performance against Yale proves that they are a team to be reckoned with. As Yale moves on to the NCAA tournament, Brown can take pride in nearly pulling off a major upset and ending their season on a high note.
