BREAKING: MEN’S BASKETBALL: Bulldogs fall to Aggies 80–71
Texas A&M gets the best of Yale in the first round of March Madness – the Aggies advance 80 – 71.
It was a dominant season for the Ivy League Champion Yale men’s basketball team (22–8, 13–1 Ivy), but in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Texas A&M Aggies (23–10, 11–7 SEC) overpowered the Bulldogs 80–71.
The physical, swarming defense from A&M gave the Bulldogs issues all night long while big man Pharrel Payne terrorized Yale on the offensive end, finishing with 25 points and 10 rebounds in a dominant performance.
“I thought they [Texas A&M] played a great game,” head coach James Jones said after the game. “Really good group of young men… In terms of our team, I couldn’t be prouder of our effort today. It wasn’t our best performance. For us to be successful in a game at this level, a lot of things have to go right. We have to make our free throws. We have to take better care of the ball. We didn’t do those things tonight.”
Star Yale guard John Poulakidas ’25 seemed to be the only Eli who could consistently find the bottom of the basket, posting 23 points in his final collegiate game.
However, some unexpected players came out of the woodwork for the Bulldogs today: Isacc Celiscar ’28 and Riley Fox ’28, both first years on the team.
Celiscar has been known to stay calm under pressure; that is precisely what he did today. The first-year put up 10 points coming in from the bench, making several baskets under pressure from the paint.
Fox was another helping hand, subbing in for starter Casey Simmons, putting up 6 points for Yale.
“Both players are going to be really good for us, as well as Jordan Brathwaite, who you got a little glimpse of,” Jones said. “Next year and beyond I expect those guys to be part of our program and sitting up here with us the next time we’re in the NCAA tournament.”
As for the rest of the team, they struggled to connect and keep possession of the ball, an issue we haven’t seen much this season. The combination of nerves and an incredibly physical opponent seemed to get the best of the Elis today.
Fouls also hindered the Bulldogs, with the physical style of the Aggies putting several Bulldogs into trouble and forcing them to the bench.
The team went in hoping for an upset, but that’s ultimately not how the cards shook out today. The Bulldogs fought until the end, putting up points in the last 30 seconds; however, the gap had already widened too much.
This season was one for the team’s four seniors — Poulakidis, Mbeng, Jack Malloy ’25 and team captain Teo Rice ’25 – to be proud of, making it to March Madness for a second consecutive year.
“We built a brotherhood here,” Poulakidis said after the game, tearing up. “Thinking that this is the last game I’m going to put a Yale jersey on with Bez Mbeng just breaks my heart. It just breaks my heart… I’m so grateful for Yale for giving me everything that it has. I’m grateful to Coach Jones for everything he’s given me. It’s just a brotherhood. All the trips, the bus rides, the dinners, the early mornings, the late nights. Everything.”
Spencer King | spencer.king@yale.edu
Sienna Tejpaul | sienna.tejpaul@yale.edu