Nearly nothing went right for the Cornell men’s basketball team over a 30-minute stretch of its Friday evening contest at Dartmouth, but the Big Red made winning plays when it mattered to rally past the Big Green 56-53 at Leede Arena. The Big Red improved to 16-3 (5-0 Ivy) and remained tied atop the Ivy League standings with Yale, a 70-64 winner at home vs. Princeton.
Cornell opened the game on a 19-0 run, watched the Big Green catch and pass them in the second half to go up by eight, then did all the right things in the final minute to earn the hard-fought win. A Chris Manonsteal and free throw broke a tie, then after a defensive stop, Nazir Williams hit a step-back jumper in the lane to push the edge to three. Cornell did not allow a good look in the final seven seconds to escape New Hampshire with the victory.
The win came despite Cornell shooting just 37 percent overall and connecting on 6-of-31 shots from 3-point range, with only Manon reaching double figures with his 11 points. Nazir Williams, Cooper Noardand Isaiah Gray each had eight points with Gray adding five rebounds, two assists and three steals and Williams chipping in four rebounds and three boards. Guy Ragland Jr. scored six points with five rebounds, including a huge 3-pointer to give the Big Red a lead with a little over two minutes remaining.
NEXT UP
• Cornell continues its three-game Ivy League road swing when it visits Harvard on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. at Lavietes Pavilion in Cambridge, Mass.
• The contest will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
• Cornell leads the all-time series 96-87, though the Crimson have won three straight and five of the past six against the Big Red.
• The Big Red hasn’t won in Cambridge since the 2018-19 season, a 67-61 victory.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].