Cornell men’s basketball hung with No. 9 Michigan State for much of Monday night before the Spartans pulled away for a 114-97 victory at the Breslin Center. The Big Red fell to 6-6, while Michigan State improved to 12-1.
Cornell jumped out to an early 15-4 lead, using quick transition offense, crisp ball movement, and sharp perimeter shooting. Seniors Cooper Noard, Adam Hinton, and Jake Fiegen fueled the surge, while junior Kaspar Sepp scored inside and Cornell converted turnovers into points. The Big Red shot 52 percent in the first half and made 13-of-17 free throws, maintaining the lead for most of the opening 20 minutes.
Michigan State gradually chipped away, with Jeremy Fears Jr. and Coen Carr pacing the Spartans. Cornell briefly regained a lead late in the half on a Fiegen layup, but back-to-back transition baskets gave Michigan State a 55-53 advantage at halftime.
The Spartans pulled away after the break, taking advantage of depth, offensive rebounds, and free-throw opportunities. Michigan State scored 59 second-half points, hitting 18-of-29 from the line, while Cornell could not sustain its first-half momentum.
Noard led Cornell with 19 points, while Fiegen and Hinton each added 15. Sophomore Mateen Rafiq contributed 11 off the bench, Josh Baldwin scored 10, and the Big Red reserves combined for 38 points. Cornell finished 32-of-70 from the floor with 15 3-pointers and 19 assists. Fears Jr. led Michigan State with 21 points and 11 assists, with six Spartans finishing in double figures.
Cornell returns home to Newman Arena on Friday, January 2, to close its non-conference schedule against Alfred State at 2 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.
