Cornell men’s basketball delivered a dominant performance Friday evening at Newman Arena, rolling past Princeton 87-64 to earn its third straight Ivy League victory. The win moved Cornell to 10-9 overall and 3-3 in conference play, while Princeton fell to 7-14 and 3-3.
Cornell led wire-to-wire and posted one of the most efficient offensive outings in program history. The Big Red shot 63.6% from the field and set a school record by converting 24-of-27 shots from inside the arc, finishing the night at an eye-popping 88.9% on two-point attempts. The lead ballooned to as many as 36 points in the second half as Cornell dominated the paint and transition game.
Senior Jake Fiegen paced a balanced attack with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting in just 23 minutes. Cooper Noard added 15 points after being recognized pregame for surpassing 1,000 career points. Josh Baldwin finished with 13 points, four rebounds and three assists, Jacob Beccles chipped in 12 points and five assists, and Adam Hinton rounded out five double-figure scorers with 10 points.
Cornell’s defense complemented the offensive surge, holding Princeton to 40% shooting and under 34% before the starters exited. The Big Red recorded seven steals and five blocks, forcing 12 turnovers that led to 19 points. Cornell also scored 46 points in the paint and added 18 fast-break points.
Cornell seized control early, closing the first half on a 22-6 run to take a 48-32 lead into the break. The Big Red continued to extend the margin after halftime before emptying the bench late.
Cornell returns to action Saturday, January 31, hosting Penn at Newman Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.
