Forward Justin Sears, the preseason Ivy League player of the year, scored a game-high 16 points to lead Yale to a 70-58 over Illinois–Chicago in the Men against Breast Cancer Classic opener on Friday night atKent State University in Kent, Ohio.
Guard Javier Duren had 15 points and guards Armani Cotton and Jack Montague added 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Bulldogs (2-1) in the first-ever meeting with the Flames.
Guards Paris Burns and Marc Brown and forward Jake Wiegand each had nine points for Illinois–Chicago (1-2). The Flames are now 4-3 all time against Ivy League schools.
Yale never trailed in the game and jumped out to a quick 12-4 lead with two Montague 3-pointers on the way to a 40-26 halftime advantage.
Illinois–Chicago twice climbed to within 10 points in the second half but got no closer. Yale made 9 of 20 shots from 3-point range.
Illinois Chicago meets Kent State at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday and closes the tournament against Southern Illinois at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.
Yale meets Southern Illinois on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET and then plays Kent State on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET.
