What's better than a Harvard vs. Yale rivalry game on National Pi Day? How about a Harvard - Yale one-game Ivy League playoff championship, to determine who goes to the NCAA Tournament, on National Pi Day? Both these iconic universities, known for their brains and mathematical equations, left it all on the Palestra court in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Saturday afternoon.
After both teams split the regular season series, this game had the potential to be a classic in this historic rivalry...and it didn't disappoint as Harvard came away with a slim two point victory, 53-51.
Harvard quickly jumped out to an 8-0 lead to begin the game, but the Yale Bulldogs have shown all season their ability to score quickly and efficiently.
Senior forward for Yale, Greg Kelley, hit a couple big three-pointers off the bench and Yale held a slim four point lead heading into halftime, 27-23.
As the second half began, both teams seemed to tighten up defensively, and in a physical battle, the Crimson looked to take control.
Harvard retook the lead when Wesley Saunders hit a three making it 33-32. Immediately following this, Yale freshman Makai Mason got hit with an elbow battling for an offensive rebound and with no whistle on the play, Saunders hit another three on the fast break putting the Crimson ahead by four with 13 minutes to go.
The Bulldogs, though, came for a dogfight and they weren't going to be put down easy. Makai Mason spun around Harvard defenders in the paint and brought the 'Dogs within three with under 9 minutes to go, 40-37.
But the physical play from Harvard seemed to snatch that momentum right away from Yale. Saunders hit a short jumper and Jonah Travis came up with a steal and hit both free throws after being fouled, giving Harvard a quick four point swing.
After Saunders converted a jumper for his 19th point, the Ivy League player of the year, Justin Sears, hit a layup and converted on a three-point play bringing the Bulldogs within six, 46-40 with under 6 minutes to play.
Armani Cotton then hit a three-point shot for Yale from the corner and Javier Duren made four free throws on back-to-back possessions to trim the Harvard lead to only one, 48-47.
All of a sudden Yale had all the momentum and the freshman, Makai Mason, with ice in his veins, put the Yale Bulldogs ahead 49-48 with 1:36 remaining.
The senior Wesley Saunders for Harvard, though, would not be denied. Following the Bulldogs taking a one-point lead, Saunders drove to the basket and was fouled as Harvard once again retook the lead 51-49 after the layup and a free throw.
This game was not over. Javier Duren once again converted on two free throws after a blocking foul was called on Jonah Travis with the shot clock winding down.
It was 51-51 with under a minute to go.
With the shot clock off, all the attention was on Wesley Saunders and as he drove to the basket he kicked it out to the senior from Cameroon, Africa, Steve Moundou-Missi, who hit the jumper with 7 seconds to go, punching Harvard's ticket to their fourth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Yale's Javier Duren missed the layup off the glass and the tip in try was off the mark as well as time expired.
Harvard's Wesley Saunders led all players with 22 points, along with 4 rebounds and 4 assists.