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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- For the first time in 37 years, the Cornell men's basketball team has knocked off a team from the powerful Southeastern Conference. Senior Ryan Wittman scored 23 points and classmate Jeff Foote added 17 points and seven rebounds as Cornell opened its 2009-10 season with a 71-67 win over Alabama at Coleman Coliseum on Saturday afternoon in the season opener for both teams.

"I have a lot of respect for the Alabama team, and I really believe in what (Coach) Anthony (Grant) is trying to do here," said Cornell head coach Steve Donahue. " Honestly, I think we caught them at a good time, while Coach Grant is still trying to get his stuff in. Still, it's great to come in and get a win on the road against an SEC opponent like Alabama. I think they'll be pretty good come January. We have a bunch of veteran leadership on this team and it means a lot to them to beat a big school like Alabama on the road to start the year."

The Big Red were able to knock off an SEC team for the first time since tipping Arkansas 78-77 in the first round of the Razorback Invitational and evened its all-time record against Alabama at 1-1. The Cornell victory also spoiled the debut of new head coach Anthony Grant, who moved in after a successful three-year run at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Cornell led by as many as 15 points in the second half, only to see the Crimson Tide whittle it down to one with just over six minutes to play. But a poised and confident Big Red tema never lost the lead and connected on 6-of-7 free throws in the final 2:24 to seal the victory.

Wittman, who entered the game 13 3-pointers shy of the Ivy League record, hit on 5-of-8 shots from beyond the arc en route to his game-high 23 points. He added three rebounds and three assists. Foote chipped in three blocked shots for his monster night, while hometown hero Louis Dale had 13 points, five assists and four rebounds in front of nearly 200 fans. The native of nearby Birmingham had three of his four rebounds on the offensive glass despite standing just 5-11.

JaMychal Green had a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double to lead the Crimson Tide, while Mikhail Torrance added 16 points and six rebounds off the bench. Also in double figures for Alabama was Anthony Brock with 15 points and Tony Mitchell with 12. The Crimson Tide shot 46 percent from the floor but surrendered 50 percent shooting in the season opener after limiting foes to 41 percent overall and 31 percent from beyond the arc. The Big Red connected on 10-of-18 shots from 3-point range (56 percent).

Cornell nearly led from buzzer to buzzer, with Alabama taking a 2-0 lead less than a minute in, only to be answered with a 6-footer from Foote. Wittman drained a 3-pointer on the next possession and Cornell built an early 10-2 lead after a three-point play by Coury. The early charge kept the pendulum in the big Red's favor, with only a quick surge by the Crimson Tide to get within two (20-18) with eight minutes to play the only blip. Wittman, as he has done his whole career, calmly hit a trey to push the lead back to five and the visitors went into the break leading 26-20.

The defensive struggle in the first half turned into a track meet after the break, as the teams combined to score 92 points in the second half after just 46 points total in the first. Dale, Chris Wroblewski and Wittman hit unanswered 3-pointers on the first three possessions of the second half to go up 35-20 just two minutes into the second, but the home team started slowly chipping away. A pair of free throws by Torrance brought the Crimson Tide back within three (50-47) with nine minutes left, but Wittman answered with a jumper. After two more free throws by Torrance cut the deficit to 54-53, Dale hit a shot form long distance. It got back to two (63-61) with 2:30 remaining, but Foote answered. 

Each time, Cornell had the answer.

Alabama was able to get back three twice in the final minutes, but Wittman and Dale hit a pair of free throws to keep the home team at bay. After Dale put Cornell up 70-65 with 55 seconds left, Torrance hit a basket to cut it to three and was fouled, but missed the ensuing free throw. Wittman rebounded and the Big Red faced an Alabama defense looking to keep it a one possession game. The senior threw up a 3-pointer late in the shot clock that missed, but senior Alex Tyler grabbed the board and got it out to Wroblewski with five seconds left. He hit the first of two free throws to make it 71-67, and the Crimson Tide couldn't get the ball over half court as they ran out of time.

Tellingly, the Big Red didn't celebrate much on the court in anticipation of bigger things to come.

Cornell will be back in action on Wednesday, Nov. 18 when it travels to the University of Massachusetts for a 7:30 tip-off against the Minutemen in the first round of the Legends Classic.