Penn Stuns Yale in Overtime to Clinch March Madness Bid

Quakers rally late to force overtime and pull off upset victory in Ivy League Tournament final

Mar. 15, 2026 at 11:40pm

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In a thrilling Ivy League Tournament final, the Penn Quakers stunned the Yale Bulldogs 88-84 in overtime to clinch an NCAA Tournament berth. Penn's star player T.J. Power hit a game-tying 3-pointer with just one second left in regulation to force the extra period, where the Quakers outscored Yale 13-9 to secure the upset victory.

Why it matters

This win marks Penn's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018, denying Yale a chance to make the Big Dance. The Quakers' comeback victory showcases the drama and unpredictability of March Madness, where a single mistake or moment of heroics can determine which teams advance.

The details

Penn trailed by five points with just 17 seconds left in overtime, but Yale failed to intentionally foul and allowed Power to tie the game and force the extra period. In the overtime session, a key 3-pointer from Cam Thrower gave Penn a lead they would not relinquish, as they held on for the 88-84 win.

  • With 1 second left in regulation, T.J. Power hit a game-tying 3-pointer to force overtime.
  • In overtime, Cam Thrower hit a 3-pointer with 1:59 left to give Penn a 4-point lead.
  • Penn outscored Yale 13-9 in the overtime period to clinch the victory.

The players

T.J. Power

Penn's star player, who transferred from Duke and Virginia, scored 44 points including the game-tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation.

Cam Thrower

Penn guard who hit a crucial 3-pointer in overtime to help the Quakers pull away.

Trevor Mullin

Yale player who had a last-second heave at the end of regulation that hit the back rim, sending the game to overtime.

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What they’re saying

“Sometimes, it's heroics. Other times, it's head-scratching blunders that help determine who goes dancing and who heads home.”

— Scott Thompson, Author

What’s next

Penn will now face No. 3 seed Illinois in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This thrilling Ivy League Tournament final showcased the drama and unpredictability of March Madness, where a single mistake or moment of heroics can change the course of a team's season. Penn's comeback victory denies Yale a chance at the Big Dance, but the Quakers will now look to pull off another upset as they make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018.