ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell men's basketball team extended its non-conference home win streak to 15 games thanks to four double figure scorers to hold off Monmouth 91-87 on Wednesday evening at Newman Arena. The Big Red improved to 6-1 on the season, while the Hawks fell to 4-4.

Cooper Noard connected on all five field goal attempts, including four 3-pointers, and hit two clutch free throws in the final seconds to ensure the Big Red's victory. His 17 points led the way, with Nazir Williams chipping in 15 along with five rebounds. Isaiah Gray scored 14 along with five assists and four rebounds and Sean Hansen notched 11 points, four rebounds and four assists in the victory. In all, 12 different Big Red players scored as the home team dished out 25 assists and shot 57 percent from the floor overall. Cornell connected on 11 3-pointers and shot a blistering 82 percent (23-of-28) inside the arc, including 13-of-15 in the second half.

Xander Rice led Monmouth with 27 points and six assists, while Jaret Valencia made 8-of-9 shots on his way to 19 points with six boards. The Hawks shot 53 percent and hit nine 3-pointers themselves, but could not overcome a 35-27 deficit on the backboards and a 41-20 disadvantage off the bench.


Cornell led throughout but could never put away the Hawks, who dropped their third game of the season to Ivy League opponents. Monmouth jumped out to an early 13-7 edge just five minutes in before Cornell got a spark off the bench. A Nazir Williams steal led to an AK Okereke layup, then the roles reversed as Williams hit a 3-pointer on a find by the sophomore. The Big Red eventually took the lead on an Isaiah Gray bucket, and edged ahead for good with five minutes left after a Guy Raglnd Jr. bucket an, an Isaiah Gray steal and a Williams trey in the span of 20 seconds to make it 37-32. The home team led 48-46 at the break.

Noard scored 11 points in the first half, including hitting all three 3-pointers he took, with Valencia netting 14 on a perfect 6-for-6 shooting half. Cornell led despite turning it over 10 times.

A 7-0 spurt out of the gates after the break with Ragland scoring five gave the Big Red a 55-46 lead, with the home team briefly pushing the advantage to double figures at 63-53 with 15:14 to play on a Williams floater. Cornell had its way inside the arc, scoring on five second half dunks and generally controlling things until the final three minutes. Monmouth got back within three points with 31 seconds remaining, then two with six ticks left, but Noard put the game away with two free throws to seal the win.

UP NEXT
• The Big Red will return to the road to face Lafayette on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. at the Kirby Sports Center.
• Cornell has a narrow 13-12 edge in the all-time series after last season's 73-68 Big Red victory in Ithaca.
• The Big Red has had the better of the series recently, winning six of the past seven contests between the programs.