Another Ivy shocker: Yale dumps Auburn

Bulldogs match rival Princeton’s 2023 surprise

John Poulakidas scored 28 points, Samson Aletan made a key block in a wild scramble in the final seconds and 13thseeded Yale rallied in the final five minutes to take down No. 4 seed Auburn 78-76 in their East Region first-round game Friday.

For the second consecutive year, the Ivy League tournament champion shocked one of the pre-tournament favorites. Last year it was Princeton topping Arizona.

The Bulldogs (23-9) won an NCAA tournament game for just the second time in school history, rallying from a 10point deficit midway in the second half. Poulakidas hit big shot after big shot. His step-back 3-pointer with 2:10 left gave Yale a 73-72 lead.

“I think I hit my first couple of shots, obviously the flood gates opened,” said Poulakidas. “But I’m just so glad that we had this opportunity first and could capitalize on it tonight.”

Johni Broome led Auburn (27-8) with 24 points and 13 rebounds, but was crumpled on the court after the loss, looking as though he’d injured his right knee in the final scrum.

“I don’t know if it’s the best win in Yale basketball history,” said coach James Jones. “But I will tell you that’s the best basketball team that we’ve beaten in Yale basketball history.”

East Region

San Diego State 69, UAB

65: Jaedon LeDee dominated the inside for the fifthseeded Aztecs (25-10) with 32 points and eight rebounds for last season’s national runners-up. Connecticut 91, Stetson

52: Donovan Clingan scored 19 points and Cam Spencer added 15 as the overall top Huskies ( 32- 3) began defense of their national title with an easy win.

Northwestern 77, FAU 65

(OT): Ryan Langborg scored 12 of his career- high 27 points in the second half for the ninth-seeded Wildcats ( 22- 11), who recovered from squandering a nine-point lead late in the second half.

Midwest Region

Purdue 78, Grambling 50:

The top-seeded Boilermakers (30-4) shook of last year’s first- round disaster. Zach Edey scored 30 points and had 21 points as Purdue never trailed.

South Region

Marquette 87, Western

Kentucky 69: Cam Jones scored 28 points and Tyler Kolek had 18 points and 11 assists as the second-seeded Golden Eagles (26-9) surged to victory with a 51-point second half to erase Western Kentucky’s seven-point lead at the break.

Colorado 102, Florida 100:

KJ Simpson’s jumper with two seconds left carried the 10thseeded Buffaloes (26-10), who held off a late Gators rally Texas A&M 98, Nebraska

83: Wade Taylor IV scored 25 points and the ninth-seeded Aggies (21-14) sent the Cornhuskers home still in search of their first NCAA tournament victory.

Duke 64, Vermont 47:

Jared McCain and Mark Mitchell each had 15 points and the fourth-seeded Blue Devils (25-8) pulled away after a close first half. Duke advanced despite a rough game for start center Kyle Filipowski, who scored a careerlow three points.

Houston 86, Longwood 46:

The top-seeded Cougars (314) never trailed, building a 4316 halftime lead. L.J. Cryer led Houston with 17 points.

James Madison 72, Wisconsin 61: The No. 12 seed Dukes ( 32- 3) used a balanced scoring attack to stun the fifth-seeded Badgers. Terrence Edwards Jr.’s 14 points led four JMU players in double figures.

West Region

Clemson 77, New Mexico 56: Chase Hunter’s 21 points led the sixth-seeded Tigers (22-11), who dominated both ends, led by 19 in the first half and 23 in the second.

Baylor 92, Colgate 67: The third-seeded Bears (24-10) breezed to the win behind Jalen Bridges’ 23 points and Ja’Kobe Walter’s 19. Baylor made 16 3-points on 30 attempts.

Alabama 109, Charleston 96: Mark Sears led the nation’s highest-scoring offense with 30 points as the fourthseeded Crimson Tide (22-11) shot 60% from the field.