Box Score I Box Score (PDF) I Game Highlights

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Senior Jake Matthews scored a career-high 17 points and junior Devin Cherry had his first career double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, but Brown overcame a halftime deficit to capture a 78-66 win over Cornell on Friday evening at the Pizzitola Sports Center. The win improved the Bears to 10-7 (2-1 Ivy), while the Big Red slipped to 1-16 (0-3 Ivy).

Matthews surpassed his career best of 10 points set as a freshman with 17 points on 4-7 shooting from the floor, including 2-of-5 from 3-point range and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. He added three rebounds, three steals and an assist without a turnover. Cherry, meanwhile, had 13 points and a career-best 12 boards to go with four assists and just one miscue. The Big Red held a 38-35 rebounding advantage and committed just eight turnovers, but made just 3-of-22 3-pointers and was done in by its second half defense, allowing the Bears to hit at a 58 percent clip (18-of-31).

Nolan Cressler chipped in 16 points and Robert Hatter had eight points, while Dave LaMore came off the bench to score four points and grab six rebounds for the visitors, whose Ivy skid was extended to nine games.

Steven Spieth and Norman Hobbie each scored 18 points for the Bears, while Sean McGonagill netted 15 points to go along with eight rebounds and six assists. Cedrick Kuakumensah had four rebounds, four blocks and three assists and Leland King scored eight for the Bears. Brown blocked six shots as a team and hit on 55 percent overall, including 8-of-18 from 3-point range (44 percent).

It looked like a lost half early as the home team sprinted to a 19-4 lead as the Big Red struggled out of the gates, making just one of their first 16 shot attempts. Then all of a sudden, Cornell came to life. Dominick Scelfo hit Jake Matthews for a corner 3-pointer, then Robert Hatter found a wide open Dave LaMore for a dunk. Cressler hit a pair of free throws and a runner in the lane. Cornell's pressure, particularly on post feeds, led to a couple steals and run-outs. When Cressler knocked home his first 3-pointer, the game was tied 23-23 and Cornell had answered with a 19-4 run of its own.

Two possessions later, the visitors took their first lead of the game. Cherry hit a pair of free throws, then hit a running jumper in the lane to give Cornell a 27-25 edge. A driving layup by Dwight Tarwater less than a minute later gave the Big Red the lead for good in the half and the team went into the break with a 33-30 edge.

Cornell's lead came despite an 11-of-31 effort from the floor (36 percent) and 2-of-14 shooting from 3-point range. The Big Red committed just three turnovers in the stanza.

Brown took hold of the game midway through the second half with a 12-0 run featuring consecutive 3-pointers by Hobbie that turned a one possession game into a 15-point Bears lead (57-42). Cornell cut it to eight on two occasions, but each time Brown answered with a quick bucket to go back up by double figures. The lead hovered between nine and 14 points the rest of the way, with the Big Red never being able to make a run to get back in it.

The Big Red completes its first full Ivy weekend tomorrow when it visits Yale at 7 p.m. in New Haven, Conn.