Yale

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – In arguably one of toughest arenas to play in in college basketball, the Yale men's basketball team fell to 2023 NCAA Division I runner-ups and No. 13 nationally ranked, Purdue 92-84, at Mackey Arena. The Bulldogs moved to 1-2 overall, while the Boilermakers improved to 3-0.
 
Statistical Leaders

• Samson Aletan was active on offense and active on the glass. He finished the game with 14 points and seven rebounds, both career-highs for the sophomore.
• John Poulakidas had a quiet eight-point first half but busted open for 15 points in the second half on 50-percent shooting from the field and a trio of three-pointers.

Strong Start
Samson Aletan started off the game hot and in the first five minutes, he had seven of Yale's ten points. By halftime, he accounted for 12 of Yale's 34 points after going 4-9 from the field and 4-7 from the foul line.
 
Inside the Box Score

• After starting slow in the first half, the Bulldogs improved in all facets of their offensive game. They improved from a 43.3% field goal percentage to a 57.1% field goal percentage. From beyond the arc, they went from 25% to 35.7% in the second half as well at improving from 41.2% from the free throw line to 71.4% by the end of the game.
• Yale dominated Purdue in the paint. The Bulldogs doubled up the paint totals and finished the game with 50 points in the paint to the Boilermakers' 24.

Game Notes

• Samson Aletan eclipsed a career-high in points (14). His previous career-high was eight points, which he set on Dec. 8, 2023, against Colby Sawyer.
• Seven rebounds were also a career-high for Aletan, who entered the game with a career-high of five rebounds against Colgate on Nov. 17, 2023.
• John Poulakidas, who has scored in double-figures in all three games this season, had a season-high 23 points.
• Five Bulldogs scored in double-figures: John Poulakidas (23), Samson Aletan (14), Bez Mbeng (12), Nick Townsend (12), and Casey Simmons (10).
• The last time Yale had five players score in double-figures was on March 9, 2024 against Brown at home.
• The last time the Bulldogs had five players in double-figure scoring with at least one person hitting 20+ points was on Nov. 28, 2021, against Stony Brook.

 
What's Next
Yale returns home after their trip to the Midwest to host Emerson on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at John J. Lee Amphitheater.