Letdown? One could have happened.
After all, Yale clinched an Ivy title last night in a scintillating tilt.
But letdowns aren’t a thing with James Jones-coached teams. The Bulldogs destroyed Columbia, 90-64, at John J. Lee Amphitheater on Senior Night Saturday.
“I keep being surprised, but in awe of this group,” said Jones. “We scored 90 points and gave up 64. I just think we could be perfect.”
Yale (18-6, 11-0) won its third outright title (2016, 2020) under Jones.
Jones started all of his seniors: captain Teo Rice, John Poulakidas, Jack Molloy and Bez Mbeng, plus junior Nick Townsend.
Yale went on an 11-0 run to lead 25-13.
The home team led 38-25 at the half. Columbia (12-12, 1-10) got no closer than 52-43.
Poulakidas was 11-for-19 from the field and scored 28 points.
Mbeng notched his second triple-double of the season, a feat tied for first in the NCAA. He posted 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Rice chipped in with seven points. Jones was effusive is his praise of his captain.
“He just does the right thing,” Jones said. “He is an energy guy, [a] giver not taker.”
Freshman Josiah Cunningham led the Lions with 16 points on 7-for-9 shooting.
Yale now has the longest winning streak in the country with 12 straight victories.
The Bulldogs are the only team in the nation that’s still undefeated in conference play.
After the game, Jones held a reception in the Payne Whitney Gymnasium Kiphuth Trophy Room for the entire team and gathered family members. He spoke about each player to a crowd of about 50 and talked at length about having to recruit both Poulakidas and Mbeng by Zoom due to the COVID pandemic.
Yale will be at second-place Dartmouth Friday at 5 p.m. Columbia, eliminated from Ivy League Tournament contention, hosts Princeton Friday at 7 p.m.
