Yale's Nick Townsend stole the show at the John J. Lee Amphitheater, scoring 25 points and grabbing 8 rebounds to power his team to a 91-74 victory over Columbia. The Bulldogs' convincing win was fueled by a strong team performance, with Townsend's dominant outing setting the tone from the start.
At halftime, Yale held a 44-35 lead, thanks in large part to Townsend's 12 first-half points. The Bulldogs' offense continued to click in the second half, with Samson Aletan and Casey Simmons chipping in with 18 and 12 points, respectively. Aletan's 7 rebounds also helped Yale control the paint and limit Columbia's second-chance opportunities.
Columbia's Kenny Noland did his best to keep his team in the game, scoring 13 points to lead the Lions. Mason Ritter and Connor Igoe added 12 and 11 points, respectively, but it wasn't enough to overcome Yale's balanced attack. The Lions struggled to contain the Bulldogs' offense, which shot efficiently from the field and capitalized on Columbia's turnovers.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
CHD Scout predicted a close contest, with Yale favored by 7.7 points. While the predicted score of 70-70 was far off, the scout's pick of Yale as the winner proved correct. The Bulldogs' 17-point margin of victory exceeded expectations, a reflection of their strong performance.
The win improves Yale's record to 14-3, with the Bulldogs looking to build momentum heading into the heart of their conference schedule. For Columbia, the loss drops their record to 12-6, but the Lions can take solace in the fact that they competed against a strong opponent on the road.
This game had real consequences for both teams' tournament resumes. For Yale, the victory counts as a Quadrant 3 win, which will help bolster their NCAA Tournament credentials. On the other hand, Columbia's loss falls under Quadrant 1, a reflection of the challenging schedule they've faced this season. While the loss may not significantly harm their tournament chances, it highlights the need for the Lions to secure quality wins in their remaining games.
With this result, Yale solidifies its position as a strong mid-major program, while Columbia want to regroup and refocus on their conference schedule. The Bulldogs' impressive performance, led by Townsend's standout effort, will undoubtedly catch the attention of tournament selectors, and they'll aim to keep their momentum going in the coming weeks.