SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Interstat) — In a game defined by contrasting styles and a decisive disparity at the free-throw line, the Yale Bulldogs methodically dispatched the Albany Great Danes 93-82 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Wednesday afternoon at the MassMutual Center.

Yale, improving to 10-1 overall, leveraged a dominant interior presence and relentless pursuit of second chances to build and maintain a lead against an Albany squad that relied on perimeter shooting and transition play. The Bulldogs’ victory, witnessed by 4,000 fans, was never truly in doubt after a strong first-half finish, despite several spirited challenges from the Great Danes, who fell to 3-8.

The most critical phase of the contest unfolded in the final five minutes of the first half. With Albany trailing 34-32 after a Ma’Kye Taylor jump shot at the 3:54 mark, Yale closed the period on a 13-5 run to establish a double-digit cushion. The Bulldogs did their damage from the charity stripe and on the glass. Nick Townsend converted a putback layup, and after a Jordan Brathwaite steal and subsequent free throws, Townsend struck again with a driving layup off another Albany turnover. Trevor Mullin capped the half by sinking two free throws and then assisting on a Riley Fox three-pointer just before the buzzer, sending Yale into the break with a 47-37 advantage.

This sequence encapsulated the game’s overarching themes. Yale, which attempted 34 free throws to Albany’s 19, made 26 from the line. The Bulldogs also crushed the Great Danes on the offensive glass, securing 15 offensive rebounds that led to 18 second-chance points and helped offset a rare afternoon where Yale’s assist total (3) was eclipsed by Albany’s (7).

The Bulldogs’ offensive efficiency, measured at 127.1 points per 100 possessions, was fueled by balanced scoring and interior dominance. Five Yale players scored in double figures, led by Brathwaite and Casey Simmons with 16 points each. Brathwaite, a guard from Fulton, Maryland, hit three crucial three-pointers in the second half to stifle Albany rallies. Simmons, from Milton, Massachusetts, added two blocks. Samson Aletan of Dallas contributed 13 points and a game-high four offensive rebounds, while Townsend of Chappaqua, New York, and Isaac Celiscar of Winter Haven, Florida, each added 12. Point guard Trevor Mullin of Wellesley, Massachusetts, orchestrated the offense with eight assists.

Albany, which shot a respectable 51.6% from the field and 47.8% from three-point range, could not overcome its struggles at the free-throw line, where it made only 7 of 19 attempts, nor its inability to secure defensive rebounds. The backcourt trio of Amir Lindsey, Nasir Muhammad, and Jaden Kempson kept the Great Danes within striking distance with prolific scoring. Lindsey, a Framingham, Massachusetts native, led all scorers with 17 points and eight assists. Muhammad of Brooklyn, New York, and Kempson of the Bronx each poured in 18 points.

Every time Albany threatened in the second half, Yale had an answer. When a Kempson three-pointer cut Yale’s lead to 68-65 with just over seven minutes remaining, the Bulldogs responded with seven straight points, including another Brathwaite three and a Townsend hook shot. Albany made one final push, closing to 79-77 on a Muhammad three-pointer with 2:01 to play, but Yale scored on its next three possessions—a Simmons dunk, an Aletan tip-in, and an Aletan layup—to seal the victory.

The Bulldogs’ physicality and discipline proved too much, as they scored 44 points in the paint and committed only 10 turnovers. Albany, despite winning the fast-break battle 19-7 and forcing 10 Yale turnovers, ultimately could not compensate for Yale’s overwhelming advantages in free-throw production and rebounding.

Yale, which entered as a 17-point favorite according to sportsbooks, now looks ahead to a marquee road test at Alabama on Dec. 29. Albany, which has lost five of its last six, continues a difficult road stretch at Florida Atlantic on Saturday. The combined score of 175 points sailed over the pregame over/under line of 149.5.