"Bulldogs, Not Underdogs" - Yale Cliches a Share of the Ivy League Title

Tonight's Atmosphere was bottled up in this picture of
Corbin Miller (Right) and Makai Mason (Left) battle
for a lose ball. Picture Via. ESPN

The atmosphere in Cambridge Mass. was amazing tonight.  Harvard's small gym was packed with excitement and nerves, as the winner of their game clinched a share of the Ivy League title.

As always with Harvard games, the heckling of opponents started early.  Students, from Harvard lined the bleachers and chanted out, "safety school!" to the Yale players during warmups.  What happens when your safety school beats you though?

Yale pulled off what some may consider an upset tonight over the reigning Ivy League Champs.  The Bulldogs won 62-52.  Although some may consider this an upset, it is anything but.  Yale has been playing great basketball all season long and they finally proved themselves tonight.

Harvard struggle shooting all night long which was one of the key reasons they lost.  In the first half they were 0-8 from three point land, and the second half wasn't too much better. In the last 20 minutes  they only shot 2-9.  Surprisingly, Harvard team filled with sharpshooters and NBA potential players only shot 11.8% from 3 tonight.  That was the difference in a game that went all the way down to the final minutes.  All the Crimson needed was a few threes to drop and the game might have been theirs, along with a share of the Ivy League title.

Another difference maker in tonight's game was Javier Duren.  He finished with 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists for Yale tonight.  Each time Harvard tried to make a run, Duren helped the Bulldogs hold onto their lead.

Although Harvard lost, Steve Moundou-Missi had one of his best games that he has had all season.  When the outside shots aren't falling, it's always wise to pound the ball in the paint.  Each time Harvard dumped the ball into the paint, the 6 foot 7 senior forward picked apart Yale's defense.  He finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds and was the only Crimson player that was consistent tonight.

Although Harvard lost, they still have a chance to win the Ivy League title.  To do so, they have to win tomorrow against Brown, and Yale has to lose to Dartmouth.  In this case, the two teams would then play each other again in a winner takes all Ivy League Title game.

Many people considered Yale underdogs coming into tonight.  But as a Yale fan expressed with his sign tonight, they are, "Bulldogs, not underdogs."  This new motto may fuel Yale up for a run in the NCAA tournament.  This year it seems that Harvard's run in March Madness is over, it's now time for a new team to represent the Ivy League.  Well, that is if Yale can hold on tomorrow night at Dartmouth.  Only time will tell, but for now it seems that the Ivy League title is Yale's to take.