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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Cornell raced out to a big lead early and held on late to win the 2012 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational lower bracket with an 84-78 win over Longwood on Saturday afternoon at Orleans Arena. The win helped the Big Red improve to 3-4 on the year, while the Lancers slipped to 1-5.

Senior Eitan Chemerinski led five Big Red double figure scorers with a career-high 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting and added six rebounds as Cornell held a 37-31 edge on the glass. Classmate Errick Peck posted his first double-double of the year with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Shonn Miller had 14 points and seven boards en route to earning all-tournament honors. Also in double figures was Nolan Cressler (12 points, four rebounds, three assists) and Devin Cherry (11 points, four rebounds, three assists). Josh Figini scored seven points in 11 minutes.

The Big Red posted a commanding 46-12 edge in bench scoring to partially overcome 20 turnovers and a decided defensive lapse, allowing 56 points in the game's final 22 minutes (22 points allowed in first 18). In the end, however, Cornell was able to grab its second straight win.

Michael Kessens had 20 points and 14 rebounds, both game highs, to lead Longwood, which shot 46 percent overall and made 9-of-22 3-pointers, including 8-of-15 after halftime. Tristan Carey and Nik Brown each scored 19 and Karl Ziegler posted 10 off the bench to round out their double figure scorers.

Cornell raced out to an 18-point lead late in the first half against Longwood, but let the Lancers back in it. Though it was always in control, Longwood was able to get back within four in the final seconds. Only six free throw makes in the final nine seconds helped Cornell avoid an even greater sweat.

It started with an early run – a run as impressive as anything it had done the day before in an 89-55 win over Presbyterian. Down 8-5 early, the Big Red kicked it into high gear with a 25-5 run over the span of 9:51 that turned a three-point deficit into a 17-point advantage. Peck dominated during that run. He hit Tarwater to a layup after a no-look pass, then took it down the lane himself for a big dunk to help Cornell regain the lead. His tip-in on the next possession and a layup after a Big Red steal continued the roll.

From there, he passed the torch to Miller. The sophomore tipped in a miss, hit a pair of free throws, followed by two 3-pointers, and all of a sudden the Big Red lead was mid double figures. Cornell went into the break leading 42-30.

The second half was a mixture of Cornell turnovers and defensive breakdowns that allowed the Lancers back in the game, though the lead only got within two possessions in the final 22 seconds. Cornell was able to salt the game away with free throws and grab a claim of the title.

Cornell returns home to face defending America East regular season champion Stony Brook on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. at Newman Arena in Bartels Hall.