Box Score Box Score
ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell turned the ball over just eight times, outrebounded Harvard and outscored the talented Harvard frontcourt 30-16 in the paint, but a 35-6 free-throw disparity in the favor of the visitors proved too much for the Big Red to overcome in a 73-60 loss on Friday evening at Newman Arena. The Crimson remained a half game behind Princeton (19-4, 8-1 Ivy) with the victory, while the Big Red slipped to 6-17 (2-7 Ivy) with the loss.
Drew Ferry hit four 3-pointers for his team-high 12 points, while Max Groebe added 10 as the lone Big Red players in double figures. Chris Wroblewski chipped in with eight points and three assists, while Adam Wire had eight points, five rebounds and three assists. Mark Coury had six points and seven rebounds, including five of the team's 15 offensive boards. Cornell held a 32-29 advantage on the glass and was credited with 14 assists to just eight turnovers.
Harvard got balanced scoring with five players in double figures, led by Christian Webster with 20 points and five rebounds. The player that made it all go was point guard Brandyn Curry, who stemmed off at least three Cornell runs with shots at big times en route to 18 points and five assists. Kyle Casey chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds, while Keith Wright had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Laurent Rivard scored 10 points off the bench to round out the double figure scorers. The Crimson connected on 29-of-35 shots from the free-throw line (83 percent), while Cornell was perfect in six attempts.
Harvard jumped out of the gates to leads of 12-2 and 15-4 before the Big Red's depth helped them mount a bit of a comeback, avoiding allowing the game to get out of hand. Groebe scored seven straight for the Big Red to get back within 17-13 with 9:44 left in the half. Cornell wouldn't be able to close the deficit any further. The lead grew to 14 (33-19) on five straight points, by Harvard, including one of three Cornell fouls on 3-point attempts on the night. The teams traded baskets late in the half, but it was more free throws, four in the final 1:26 of the half by Curry, that gave the visitors a 37-24 edge at the break.
The Cornell bench started to wear down Harvard some in the second 20 minutes, getting back within nine on a driving layup by Errick Peck, but Curry hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key at the end of a shot clock on the ensuing possession and a rare four-point play just over a minute later by Webster pushed the visitors lead back to 14. Cornell wouldn't get back within single digits the rest of the way.
Cornell returns to action tomorrow when it meets Dartmouth at 7 p.m. at Newman Arena.
