Penn Claims Ivy League Title in TJ Power’s Game for the Ages

The University of Pennsylvania Men’s Basketball team won their first Ivy League title since 2018 on Sunday, March 15, defeating Yale 88-84 in overtime behind 44 points from junior forward TJ Power.

Power made 14 of 26 shots (7-of-14 from three), including two threes in the final eight seconds of regulation, helping the Quakers erase a five-point deficit and push the game to overtime. He added 14 rebounds for his second double-double in as many days.

The win means the Quakers will participate in the NCAA Tournament, ending an eight-year drought: it also marks their second conference championship since the Ivy League switched to a tournament format, and their second overtime win in as many days.

Cam Thrower supplemented Power as the Quakers’ second-leading scorer with senior wing Ethan Roberts still recovering from a concussion. Thrower, a senior guard, added 19 points. He put Penn in front 82-78 with an overtime three, then landed a layup off his own offensive rebound as a Bulldogs’ triple cut the lead to one. Power and Michael Zanoni each went two-for-two from the line to close the top-seeded Bulldogs out.

Penn’s offense wavered early, the Quakers trailing 17-10 nine minutes in. Power began to take over from there, scoring 19 of their next 24 points to give Penn a 34-30 lead with his fourth made three of the period.

Yale led for most of the second half, but Power scored ten points in the final three minutes of regulation to save the Quakers’ season… and end the Bulldogs’.

Penn will learn their draw for the NCAA Tournament during the selection show at 6 p.m. on March 15, broadcast on CBS.

For a related story, click here to learn about how Penn head coach Fran McCaffery helped TJ Power regain his confidence.