Final | Yale 71, Texas A&M 80

The Bulldogs put up a good fight, but in the end, the Texas A&M Aggies proved to be too much. The team never gave up, still putting up points in the last 30 seconds, but it just wasn’t enough today.

Yale fell 80 – 71 to the Aggies, who will now advance to the second round of March Madness. 

– Sienna Tejpaul, Staff Reporter  

Second half, 3:40 remaining | Yale 60 Texas A&M 69 

In the last four minutes, the Bulldogs have brought the score back to within 10, doing whatever they can to make a play. Celiscar is once again coming in clutch for the Bulldogs– keeping his play clean and adding another two points to their score. 

– Sienna Tejpaul, Staff Reporter 

Second half, 5:35 remaining | Yale 54, Texas A&M 67

The shots just have not been dropping for Yale today. Townsend and Aletan both come up with nothing after going in for layups, giving the Aggies two extra possessions. The gap is widening as the Bulldogs head into the game’s last five minutes. Let’s see if they can turn this around.

– Sienna Tejpaul, Staff Reporter

Second half, 6:29 remaining | Yale 52, Texas A&M 63

A&M responds right back with a run of their own, pushing the lead back to 11 points.

Yale is getting a boost from the Michigan fans who have begun filing into Ball Arena for the game right after this one.

Wolverines fans are rooting for Yale. Former Yale player Danny Wolf’s parents are cheering loudly in the stands.

– Spencer King, Senior Reporter & Ben Raab, Managing Editor

Second half, 9:29 remaining, | Yale 50, Texas A&M 58

Fox hits another three from the other corner, while Mbeng picks up his fourth personal foul. 

Townsend takes it all the way in for a basket that makes the crowd go crazy — fans seem to be rooting for an upset in Ball Arena tonight. Lots of game left. 

– Spencer King, Senior Reporter & Sienna Tejpaul, Staff Reporter

Second half, 11:39 remaining | Yale 45, Texas A&M 54

Riley Fox ’28 hits a big corner three to cut the Aggies’ lead to under 10. Yale is looking to go on a run and follow the momentum to pull closer. 

– Spencer King, Senior Reporter

Second half, 15:33 remaining | Yale 38, Texas A&M 49

The Bulldogs are still struggling to close the gap — now trailing by over 10 points. Every time the team scores, the Aggies are right there to match them. In the second half, the Bulldogs need to focus on making some defensive stops in addition to racking up points. Otherwise, this gap is going to stay wide. 

– Sienna Tejpaul, Staff Reporter

Second half, 19:09 remaining | Yale 31, Texas A&M 41 

Under a minute into the second half and Yale’s starting center Aletan picks up his fourth personal foul of the game, now heading to the bench. Looks like it’ll be Celiscar for much of the rest of the game instead.

– Spencer King, Senior Reporter

Halftime | Yale 29, Texas A&M 40

Wade Taylor IV ended the half with a deep three-pointer to push the Aggies’ lead to double digits. Yale needs to find its finishing touch in the second half, as they’re currently only shooting 40.7 percent from the field. Meanwhile, an Aggies team that during the season shot 41.6% from the field is currently hitting 58.6%. 

– Spencer King, Senior Reporter

First half, 1:53 remaining Yale 29, Texas A&M 35

Isaac Celiscar ’28 coming in hot with a huge drive. The first year caught the rebound off Bez Mbeng’s ’25 shot and then made a textbook layup, shifting the momentum towards the Bulldogs for the first time in a few plays. 

– Sienna Tejpaul, Staff Reporter 

First half, 3:00 remaining | Yale 27, Texas A&M 34

To win in March, it sometimes takes unlikely heroes. We may see one here as first-year Jordan Brathwaite ’28, who did not see time in the Ivy League Tournament, is currently playing point guard for the Bulldogs.

– Spencer King, Senior Reporter

First half, 5:05 remaining | Yale 23, Texas A&M 29

The Bulldogs are making a push here as the defense has come alive. Coach Jones reinserted the starting lineup at the last timeout, which has made a real difference. 

– Spencer King, Senior Reporter

First half, 8:00 remaining | Yale 19, Texas A&M 29

Big alley-oop slam for Aletan brings the Yale crowd to their feet as the Bulldogs look to chip into the A&M lead.

The Aggies’ press has flustered the Bulldogs’ offense, which has been taking the full 10 seconds on the shot clock each possession just to get the ball past half-court. 

– Spencer King, Senior Reporter & Ben Raab, Managing Editor

First half, 8:58 remaining | Yale 12, Texas A&M 22

Bulldogs are looking a little jittery as they kick off the first half. The team gave away two back-to-back possessions, resulting in a momentum shift for the Aggies. 

However, the Bulldogs are fighting back, draining two in the last two minutes. 

– Sienna Tejpaul, Staff Reporter

First half, 15:20 remaining | Yale 5, Texas A&M 9

Two back-to-back buckets from Simmons to start the game, followed closely by some decisive offensive action from A&M’s Taylor IV. 

– Kaitlyn Pohly, Sports Editor

6 minutes until tip-off

Starting lineups have been announced: 

For Yale, it will be Bez Mbeng ’25, John Poulakidas ’25, Samson Aletan ’27, Casey Simmons ’27 and Nick Townsend ’26.

For Texas A&M, it’s Hayden Hefner, Wade Taylor IV, Andersson Garcia, Henry Coleman III and Manny Obaseki.

– Spencer King, Senior Reporter & Sienna Tejpaul, Staff Reporter 

45 minutes until tip-off

Yale and Texas A&M players are warming up on the court. The Yale Precision Marching Band is in attendance this year after being unable to make it last season. Not many Bulldog fans in the stands yet. 

– Spencer King, Senior Reporter

4:05 P.M. local time

Yale President Maurie McInnis will be in attendance in Denver. Her score prediction: Yale 79, Texas A&M 75.

– Spencer King, Senior Reporter

3:50 P.M. local time

The Bulldogs have arrived in Ball Arena.