NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Yale finds itself in a very familiar place after its Ivy League opener. The Bulldogs cruised to a 96-69 victory over Cornell to begin league play 1-0 for the eighth straight year.
 
The circumstances were a little bit different this time. After its first three Ivy games were postponed, Yale had played only once since Dec. 14. You'd never know it by the result. The Bulldogs shot 54.2 percent from the field, outrebounded the Big Red 41-25 and had a season-high 20 assists on 32 field goals.
 
Isaiah Kelly scored a career-high 18 points, one of five Bulldogs in double figures, to lead the way. Matt Knowling also had a career afternoon, finishing with 17 points and eight rebounds. Jalen Gabbidon (13 points), Azar Swain (12) and Matthue Cotton (10) scored in double figures as well. EJ Jarvis contributed nine points off the bench, and Bez Mbeng had two points, two rebounds and three assists.
 
A challenging early-season schedule had the Bulldogs in top form, despite the layoff. Yale's previous 14 opponents had a combined overall record of 116-73 (.614), which ranks as the 51st oughest schedule in the nation according to the NCAA.
 
"Our non-conference schedule helped prepare us," said James Jones, the Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of the Bulldogs.
 
Jones, though, was concerned opening against a Cornell team that led the nation in adjusted pace of play in terms of the shortest average possession time during its non-conference season. Yale's defense, though, responded. The Bulldogs held the Big Red to 42.6 percent shooting from the field, including 23.1 percent (6-of-26) from three-point range.
 
"We knew they like to get up-and-down the floor so transition defense and making sure we didn't leave their shooters open on the wings would be important," said Kelly, who was 8-of-11 from the field.
 
"We did a great job defending them," added Jones.
 
Yale seized control with an early 8-0 run that snapped a 9-9 tie. By halftime, the Bulldogs had a 44-33 lead.
 
Cornell, playing its fourth Ivy game, pulled to within three, 52-49, early in the second half, but Yale answered with a 13-3 spurt. At the final media timeout of the afternoon, the Bulldogs had built an 86-62 advantage.
 
Yale shouldn't have to wait nearly as long for its second Ivy game. The Bulldogs are at Brown on Monday. Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m.