The Cornell men’s basketball team came up short in a high-scoring season opener, falling 110-102 to Kent State on Friday night at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center. The Big Red dropped to 0-1, while the Golden Flashes improved to 1-1.
Cornell erupted from beyond the arc, hitting 19 three-pointers, the fifth-most in program history, including 14 in the first half. Senior guard Cooper Noard led the Big Red with a career-high 34 points and five rebounds, while fellow senior Adam Hinton added a personal-best 29 points on six threes. The Big Red shot 52 percent from the field and 48 percent from deep but were undone by 17 turnovers and Kent State’s 22 made free throws.
The opening half turned into a shooting showcase as both teams traded long-range shots. Cornell erased an early 10-point deficit with a stretch of five straight threes to tie the game before trailing 58-55 at halftime. Kent State’s Morgan Safford matched Noard with 34 points and nine triples, while Delrecco Gillespie posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards.
The Golden Flashes broke the game open with a 20-5 second-half run, building an 18-point advantage. Cornell rallied late to cut the margin to four with under two minutes left, but Kent State held on.
The Big Red continue their road trip Sunday, November 9, visiting Illinois State at 2 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].