Cornell Men’s Basketball Eyes NCAA Bid Against Yale Sunday

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Cornell men’s basketball team is set to face Yale for the Ivy League championship on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at noon ET at Pizzitola Sports Center. This matchup offers Cornell a chance to secure a coveted spot in the NCAA Tournament after a five-year absence.

Cornell, the No. 2 seed, enters the game with an 18-10 record, fresh off a historic victory against Dartmouth in the semifinals. Junior AK Okereke had a standout performance, scoring 25 points while contributing nine rebounds, four assists, four blocked shots, and four steals. This achievement marked Okereke as the first player in the program’s history to have such a statistical line.

Yale, the top seed with a record of 21-7, has beaten Cornell twice already this season, winning 103-88 in Ithaca on February 8 and 92-88 in New Haven on February 21. The Bulldogs’ strong season has been underscored by their offensive efficiency, averaging 82.2 points per game and dominating in the paint with an average of 38.8 points.

Head coach of Cornell, David Archer, expressed enthusiasm for the championship opportunity: “We’ve shown resilience all season, and now we have a chance to do something special. Yale is a strong team, but we’re ready to compete.”

The matchup marks Cornell’s first appearance in the Ivy League title game since the league restructured its postseason format in 2017, allowing the top two seeds to compete for the automatic NCAA Tournament bid.

The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and can also be streamed on various platforms. Fans can look forward to an exciting contest as both teams aim for the title and a spot in March Madness.