ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell shot 62 percent from the floor, built a double digit first half lead and cruised to a 96-70 exhibition win over SUNY-Cortland on Saturday evening at Newman Arena. The game was the Big Red's final tuneup before visiting Syracuse on Friday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.

Junior Matt Morgan led four Big Red players in double figures with a game-high 25 points in just 23 minutes off the bench. The two-time All-Ivy League selection connected on 9-of-12 field goals, including 5-of-7 3-pointers, and added three rebounds, an assist and a steal. Wil Bathurst chipped in 14 points, seven assists and six rebounds and both sophomore Josh Warren (five assists, three rebounds) and freshman Jake Kuhn (four rebounds) scored 10 points in Cornell's first exhibition game since 2004.

The Big Red shot 57 percent in the first 20 minutes in taking a 43-26 lead, then connected on 66 percent shooting after the break in scoring 53 points. The Red Dragons made a run early in the second half to cut what was a 20-point lead to eight, but the home team answered with an 8-0 run that featured six points by Morgan to put the game out of reach. The visitors never climbed within 14 points in the final 17 minutes.

James Morales led SUNY-Cortland with 21 points, while Zach Lydon had 15 points and six rebounds and Nicky Bonura scored 11 off the bench.

Cornell dominated the glass (39-28) and assisted on 21 of its 37 field goals while connecting on 12-of-24 3-pointers. A number of first-year players made their debuts, with Steven Julian recording seven points and seven rebounds and Jimmy Boeheim adding two points and two boards in the starting lineup. Kuhn was the leading scorer among the newcomers, while Riley Voss chipped inseven points and three boards, Terrance McBride added two points and two assists and Bryan Knapp scored six points.

Senior Jordan Abdur-Ra'oof had two points and two rebounds in five minutes of action after missing the entire 2016-17 campaign due to injury. Joel Davis (five points, three rebounds), Jack Gordon (three points, two rebounds), and Kyle Brown (three points) also got in the scoring column, as all 13 players who dressed netted at least two points.