GAME NOTES: The oldest rivals in collegiate athletics will square off in a one-game playoff for the Ivy League championship and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, as the Yale Bulldogs and Harvard Crimson meet at the Palestra on Saturday afternoon.

This is actually the ninth Ivy League Playoff in conference history. Harvard has won five straight Ivy League championships, while Yale has now collected five titles in all, its first since 2002.

It was a strong season for James Jones and his Bulldogs. Jones was named the Ivy League Coach of the Year, guiding Yale to a 22-9 overall record, with an 11-3 league ledger. The Bulldogs had the conference crown in hand with a big win over Harvard on March 6, but opened the door for the Crimson by losing their season-finale at Dartmouth (59-58). Yale's 22 wins are the most for the school since 1948-49.

Tommy Amaker's Crimson got a gift when Dartmouth upset Yale in the season finale, but Harvard took care of its work, posting a 10-point win over Brown to earn a share of the conference crown. The Crimson ended the regular season with a 21-7 overall record and tied Yale with an 11-3 conference mark.

These two teams split the regular-season series, both winning on the road. Harvard got the first win, a 52-50 decision in New haven on Feb. 7, while Yale returned the favor in Cambridge on March 6, 62-52. Yale holds a 115-75 edge in the all-time series.

Forward Justin Sears leads Yale at both ends of the floor, averaging team- highs in scoring (14.4 ppg), rebounding (7.6 rpg) and blocks (2.4 bpg). The 6-8 junior is shooting an impressive .507 percent from the floor this year and was recently named the Ivy League Player of the Year. Sears was joined on the All-Ivy League First-Team by senior guard Javier Duren, who is averaging 14.0 ppg, while serving as the team's primary distributor (4.0 apg).

On the season, Yale averaged 68.2 ppg, on .445 shooting. Where the Bulldogs really had the edge was at the defensive end, limiting foes to just 60.6 ppg and .415 efficiency. Yale also boasts a +5.7 rebounding margin.

The Crimson are one of the top defensive squads in the nation, leading the Ivy and ranking 12th in the country in scoring defense at 57.5 ppg. Foes are shooting just .399 from the floor, while the Crimson outrebound them by just over four boards per game.

Harvard has its own star power in the form of three-time All-Ivy League First- Teamer Wesley Saunders and Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year Steve Moundou-Missi. Saunders checks in as one of the most explosive scorers in the conference, ranking third in the Ivy at 16.1 ppg. The 6-5 senior is much more than a scorer, as he also puts up 6.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per outing. Siyani Chambers adds 9.9 ppg to the Harvard cause and edged out Saunders in assists (122 top 119). Moundou-Missi checks in at 9.7 ppg, while pacing the team in both rebounding (7.3 rpg) and blocked shots (43).

Yale let the title slip away in the season finale, while Harvard took care of business. Expect the Crimson to ride that momentum into the NCAA Tournament and become the first of the Ancient Eight to reach four straight NCAA Tournaments since Princeton (1989-92).