In a stunning display of clutch shooting, TJ Power exploded for 44 points to propel Penn past Yale 88-84 in overtime during Sunday’s Ivy League tournament championship in Ithaca, New York, securing the Quakers’ spot in March Madness.
Power’s remarkable performance included two crucial 3-pointers in the game’s final seven seconds of regulation time. The standout guard also grabbed 14 rebounds while shooting an impressive 14-of-26 from the field, including 7-of-14 from beyond the arc. His 44-point outburst marks the highest-scoring game in Ivy League tournament history. Cam Thrower contributed 19 points for Penn (18-11).
Yale (24-6) received strong offensive contributions from Trevor Mullin’s 22 points, while Casey Simmons, Nick Townsend, and Isaac Celiscar each tallied 17 points. Celiscar also pulled down 11 rebounds for the Bulldogs.
The dramatic finish unfolded when Yale appeared to have the game in hand, leading 73-69 following two Mullin free throws with just 12 seconds on the clock. Power responded immediately with a difficult 3-pointer, cutting the deficit to 73-72. After Mullin sank two more free throws with five seconds remaining, Power struck again from long range with one second left, knotting the score at 75-75 and forcing overtime.
During the extra period, Power added four more points from the free-throw line, helping Penn reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. The victory comes in the inaugural season under head coach Fran McCaffery and represents just the Quakers’ second tournament appearance since 2008.
In other championship action, VCU defeated Dayton 70-62 for the Atlantic 10 title, with Nyk Lewis recording 17 points and 11 rebounds. The second-seeded Rams (27-7) successfully defended their conference tournament crown and earned their 21st NCAA Tournament berth.
Meanwhile, South Florida captured the American Conference championship with a 70-55 victory over Wichita State. Wes Enis led the top-seeded Bulls with 19 points as they secured their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012 under first-year coach Bryan Hodgson.
