Penn's TJ Power takes advantage of massive Yale blunder to punch ticket to March Madness

A monolithic blunder by the Yale Bulldogs’ men’s hoops squad successful the Ivy League Tournament last coiled up costing them a March Madness bid. 

It was a thrilling 2nd fractional that yet needed other clip to fig retired a champion, arsenic Penn’s T.J. Power nailed a game-tying 3-pointer with 1 2nd near to unit overtime. It gave the Quakers prima 40 points and kept their play alive, arsenic the No. 1 effect Bulldogs were trying to clasp disconnected their league foe. 

But the Quakers were capable to travel distant with the 88-84 upset victory, marking the school’s archetypal NCAA Tournament bid since 2018. 

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Penn Quakers guardant TJ Power (12) shoots the shot implicit Providence Friars defender Jaylin Sellers (2) during the 2nd fractional astatine Amica Mutual Pavilion connected Nov. 11, 2025. (Eric Canha/Imagn Images)

It didn’t look to beryllium the case, though, arsenic Power made it 86-81 arsenic helium nailed 2 escaped throws to springiness him a full of 44 points with conscionable 17 seconds near successful overtime. The Bulldogs were expected to commencement fouling the Quakers intentionally, arsenic to not let them the accidental to interruption the five-point pb Yale owned. 

It’s communal with astatine slightest a three-point pb to foul precocious successful the game, but Yale’s Casey Simmons fto Power tally down the tribunal and person the accidental to necktie the crippled successful the last seconds. Power didn’t discarded the opportunity. 

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Using their momentum, the Quakers, caller disconnected a adjacent triumph implicit No. 2 Harvard to beforehand to the Ivy League Tournament final, outscored the Bulldogs, 13-9, wherever Power was a cardinal constituent successful the end. Also, Cam Thrower’s three-pointer with 1:59 near successful overtime gave Penn a four-point pb that would ne'er beryllium relinquished. 

Penn Quakers guardant TJ Power (12) goes to the handbasket against Rutgers Scarlet Knights guardant Bryce Dortch (4) during the archetypal fractional astatine Jersey Mike's Arena connected Dec. 20, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)

As Michael Zanoni nailed some of his escaped throws with 7 seconds left, it iced triumph for the Quakers, who volition present beryllium focused connected No. 3 Illinois aft getting into March Madness arsenic a No. 14 seed. 

Power, who played astatine Duke and Virginia earlier transferring to Penn, finished with 44 points connected 14-of-26 shooting, including 7-of-14 three-pointers made. He had 14 rebounds for a double-double, portion besides dishing retired 2 assists and picking up 1 bargain and 1 blocked shot. 

Thrower finished the crippled with 19 points, going an businesslike 6-of-10 from the tract and picking up 4 rebounds. 

For Yale, they volition person to deliberation astir the what-ifs until adjacent play – the unfortunate different broadside of March Madness. That’s particularly the lawsuit considering Trevor Mullin’s last-ditch heave to triumph the crippled deed disconnected the backmost rim connected the different broadside of the tribunal to corroborate overtime was needed for these 2 rivals. 

Penn Quakers guardant TJ Power (12) looks to walk during the 2nd fractional against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights astatine Jersey Mike's Arena connected Dec. 20, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)

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Sometimes, it’s heroics. Other times, it’s head-scratching blunders that assistance find who goes dancing and who heads home. 

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