Texas A&M defeats Yale 80-71 in NCAA tournament

Texas A&M defeated Yale 80-71 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday. The Aggies controlled the game and never looked back. Pharrel Payne led Texas A&M with a personal-best 25 points and 10 rebounds. The fourth-seeded Aggies entered the tournament with expectations high. They were seen as a tough opponent for Yale, who had previously upset a higher seed last year. However, this time, Texas A&M proved to be too strong for the Ivy League team. Coach Buzz Williams celebrated his second tournament victory in six years. Texas A&M will next face Michigan, who narrowly beat UC San Diego 68-65. Yale's John Poulakidas was the leading scorer for his team with 23 points. After the game, he and teammate Bez Mbeng reflected on their time at Yale. They expressed gratitude for the support from their coaches. “It’s meant everything to us,” Poulakidas said, showing the emotional impact of their college journey.