In a stunning upset, No. 13 Yale overcame a 10-point deficit to defeat No. 4 Auburn 78-76 in a thrilling NCAA tournament first-round game. Yale’s comeback was fueled by a scoring drought from Auburn in the second half, allowing the Bulldogs to chip away at the Tigers’ lead.
The turning point came when Yale’s John Poulakidas sank a crucial 3-pointer with just over two minutes remaining, giving the Bulldogs their first lead of the game. Despite multiple opportunities in the final moments, Auburn was unable to convert and ultimately fell short.
Poulakidas finished with a game-high 28 points, while Broome added 24 points for Yale. This victory marks Yale’s first NCAA tournament win since their upset over No. 5 Baylor in 2016.
Auburn’s loss only adds to the SEC’s disappointments in the tournament, with five teams now eliminated in the first round. The Tigers, who entered the tournament as SEC champions and national title favorites, failed to live up to expectations.
Adding to Auburn’s woes was the early ejection of Chad Baker-Mazara, further disrupting their game plan. The final possession of the game was chaotic, with missed free throws and unsuccessful attempts by Auburn to tie the game, sealing their fate in a shocking defeat.
The upset victory by Yale will surely go down as one of the highlights of this year’s tournament, while Auburn will have to regroup and reflect on what went wrong in a tournament that ended sooner than they had hoped.
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