Senior guard Nazir Williams scored a game-high 20 points to lead four Big Red scorers in double figures, but 17 Cornell turnovers doomed the big Red in an 83-77 loss to Siena on Monday afternoon at Newman Arena. The Big Red slipped to 7-5, while the Saints improved to 6-7.
Williams made 8-of-13 field goals and added five rebounds and five assists to up his career scoring to 988 points – just 12 shy of becoming the 28th 1,000-point scorer in school history. Guy Ragland Jr. added 14 points, six rebounds and three assists, Cooper Noard added 12 and AK Okereke netted 11 points.The Big Red shot 54 percent from the floor overall but were limited to 4-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc after entering the contest making 10.6 per game and attempting just under 31.
Siena placed five in double figures, shooting 54 percent from the floor and turning the tables on the 3-point shooting by hitting 8-of-19. Justice Shoats scored 16 points with 10 assists to lead to the Saints, while Brendan Coyle added 16 and Gavin Doty netted 16 with eight boards off the bench. Peter Carey (13) and Major Freeman (13) rounded out the double-figure scorers.
In a game that featured 45 fouls, 54 free throws and 31 turnovers, the Big Red never got into the flow of the game. Along with getting run off the 3-point line, Cornell trailed nearly from tip to horn, leading for just 1:06 of the contest after falling behind 12-2 to start the game. Williams tied the game at the halftime horn on a step-back jumper to go into the break at 35-35, but Siena led by as may as 13 in the final 20 minutes. The home team twice got within two points, including with 16 seconds left, but never got the ball back in position to tie or take the lead. Doty, from nearby Fulton, N.Y., hit four free throws in the final seconds to loud applause as Siena collected the victory.
UP NEXT
• Cornell will ring in the new year when it welcomes Division III foe Penn State Schuylkill to Newman Arena for the team’s final non-conference contest on Sunday, Jan. 5 at 2 p.m.
• It will be the first-ever meeting between the programs.
• The Lions enter the contest 8-6 overall and sporting a 6-1 league record in PSUAC play and are averaging 81.9 points per game, including three 100-point outings.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].