ITHACA, N.Y. -- Senior Dean Noll scored 15 of his 20 points in the decisive second half and led a bench that contributed 43 points in a 79-71 comeback victory over Dartmouth on Sunday afternoon at Newman Arena. The Big Red remained unbeaten at home (6-0) while improving to 9-3 overall (1-0 Ivy). The Big Green dropped its eighth straight, seven coming by single digits or in overtime, to fall to 3-9 (0-1 Ivy).

Cornell shot 60 percent in the second half and grinded out a win despite hitting a season-low six 3-pointers, overcoming a halftime deficit by hitting 14-of-16 free throws after the break and exploding for 46 points after netting just 33 before the break. Sophomore Chris Manon notched 16 points and collected three steals as the second double figure scorer, while Sarju Patel and Isaiah Gray chipped in nine with Guy Ragland Jr. and Greg Dolan scoring eight apiece. Sophomore Evan Williams played a vital role defensively off the bench and was +12 in 12 minutes of action, scoring four points with three rebounds and collecting a key steal in the final minute to help the Big Red seal the win. The triumph snapped a two-game skid for the Big Red against Dartmouth 

Aaryn Rai led four Dartmouth double figure scorers with 16 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Garrison Wade (15 points, six rebounds), Dame Delekun (14 points, four rebounds) and Brendan Barry (12 points, four rebounds) also reached the mark. The visitors hit 6-of-12 from beyond the arc in the second half to hang around, but couldn't regain the lead after the Big Red snatched in 1:45 into the second half.
 

First Half

• The lead traded hands seven times in the first 4:31 before a 10-0 run turned a one-point Big Red deficit into a nine-point lead (16-7) with eight minutes gone.
• Isaiah Gray had a pair of driving buckets to highlight the Big Red run.
• Cornell maintained a lead of at least two possessions for much of the next eight minutes before the visitors closed on a run.
• Trailing 30-23, the Big Green scored 11 of the final 14 points of the half to lead 34-33 at the break.
• After committing just one turnover over the game's first 16 minutes, the Big Red made five in the final four minutes.
• Chris Manon had nine points at the break, but Dartmouth's 48 percent shooting and its 16-15 allowed the visitors the narrowest of leads after 20 minutes.
 

Second Half

• Dartmouth's Wes Slajchert hit a 3-pointer on the opening possession of the second half, but Cornell answered right back.
• An 8-0 spurt included backdoor layups from both Keller Boothby and Greg Dolan on feeds from Kobe Dickson, the latter putting Cornell back in the lead.
• Dartmouth tied the contest at 49-49 with 12:11 to play when Dame Adelekun's shot in the lane found the bottom of the net, but Dean Noll answered back with a three-point play just eight seconds later to put the Big Red back up. 
• It was the first three of 10 consecutive points by Noll with the last coming on a second three-point play in the span of four minutes to make it 59-53.
• Cornell led by eight with seven minutes to play after a pair of free throws by Guy Ragland Jr., but 1:33 later Dartmouth knotted the score at 63-63.
• The Big Red regained the lead for good after senior Max Samberg drew a charge, then Noll grabbed a rebound on a Dartmouth miss and Chris Manon pulled up for a 3-pointer to give Cornell the go-ahead bucket for the third time in the second half.
• It was a one-possession game in the final 90 seconds, but Noll hit a dagger 3-pointer, then connected on two free throws as the Big Red make all six free throw attempts down the stretch to seal the victory.
 
 

Next Up

• The Big Red hits the road in Ivy League competition for the first time in 2021-22 when it visits Penn and the famed Palestra on Friday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m.
• Cornell will be eyeing its first win at the Palestra since the 2012-13 campaign.
• The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+, and as of Dec. 31, fans will not be allowed to attend the game.