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Game Highlights

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Junior Ned Tomic posted career highs of 20 points, nine rebounds and three blocks as Cornell picked up its first win of the year by topping Oberlin College 77-55 on Saturday afternoon at Newman Arena. The Big Red snapped a 19-game losing streak and won its first contest of the season (1-13), while the Division III Yeomen dropped to 4-9.

Tomic scored 18 of his 20 points after halftime to surpass his previous career high of six points. The native of North Royalton, Ohio scored on an array of fakes, drop-steps and putbacks, connecting on 9-of-13 shots from the floor off the bench. His nine rebounds also nearly doubled his previous high of five. He entered the contest with one career block and ended the day with four.

While Tomic did all he could to end the Big Red's drought, Nolan Cressler added 12 points, five rebounds and four assists and Devin Cherry notched 10 points, seven assists and six rebounds. The Big Red shot 51 percent from the floor overall, including a sizzling 71 percent (17-of-24) after halftime to pull away from Oberlin. Freshmen guards Robert Hatter and Darryl Smith each had seven points and senior Jake Matthews had six. Senior Dwight Tarwater had four points and six boards.

Cornell dominated in points off the bench (41-24), second chance points (19-1), points off turnovers (24-9) and points in the paint (36-22) while holding a commanding advantage on the backboards (39-24).

Oberlin had three double figure scorers, with Emmanuel Lewis leading the way with 14 points. Miles Gueno added 12, while Geoff Simpson had 10 points, six rebounds and six assists. The Yeomen shot 41 percent from the floor, but had 15 turnovers.

The Big Red and the Yeomen were even for the better part of the first seven minutes before a 16-3 run triggered by a hustle play by Deion Giddens helped Cornell take a 24-11 lead with nine minutes left in the first. Giddens wrestled away a rebound from an Oberlin player and hit a half-hook while being fouled. He connected on the free throw and later converted after his own miss during the run. Cherry scored five points in the spurt and assisted on two of the baskets.

Oberlin got back within nine points late int he first half and went in trailing by 10 at the break.

The Yeomen made a run early in the second half, getting back within 41-35 two minutes in before Tomic took over. The junior scored 12 straight for the Big Red, including a dunk on a nice find from Dwight Tarwater, to stem the run. Oberlin was able to keep the Big Red within arm's length, but four times Tomic answered a visitor's basket with one of his own, including three times pushing the lead back to double figures. Cornell started expanding the lead methodically, and after Oberlin crept back to within eight at 53-45 with 12 minutes to play, the Big Red put the game away.

Matthews hit a layup, followed by an up-and-under basket by Tomic. Cherry drove the lane for a basket and then found Cressler for a 3-pointer late in the shot clock two possessions later. Tomic scored inside against and Cressler nailed another 3-pointer. Tomic and Mathews ended the run the same way it started and Cornell led 70-51 with less than four minutes to play.

The reserves were able to get the last two minutes of action, with the highlight coming on a jumper and foul by JoJo Fallas, who capped the scoring with 36 seconds remaining.

Cornell opens Ivy League play when it visits Columbia on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. at Levien Gymnasium in New York, N.Y.