EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Cornell men's basketball team went toe-to-toe with No. 9 Michigan State for a half Monday night, leading by as many as 11 and trailing by just two at the break before the Spartans pulled away for a 114-97 win on Monday evening at the Breslin Center. The Spartans improved to 12-1 on the season, while the Big Red dropped to 6-6.
The Big Red came out fearless, scoring on five of its first six possessions and opening a 15-4 lead less than four minutes into the game. Cornell extended the margin to 24-15 and later pushed the advantage to 28-19, using transition offense, ball movement and perimeter shooting to put pressure on the nationally-ranked Spartans.
Seniors Cooper Noard, Adam Hinton and Jake Fiegen all played key roles in the early surge, while junior Kaspar Sepp finished inside and Cornell repeatedly converted turnovers into points. The Big Red shot 52 percent from the field in the first half and went 13-for-17 at the free-throw line, answering every Michigan State run to remain in front for much of the opening 20 minutes.
Michigan State gradually closed the gap behind Jeremy Fears Jr. and Coen Carr, finally pulling even late in the half. Cornell briefly regained the lead on a Fiegen layup with 46 seconds remaining, but the Spartans closed the period with back-to-back transition baskets, including a layup by Fears at the horn, to take a 55–53 lead into halftime.
The Spartans took control after the break, using depth, offensive rebounding and a flurry of free throws to stretch the margin. Michigan State scored 59 points in the second half and went 18-for-29 at the foul line after intermission to build separation.
Noard led Cornell with 19 points, while Fiegen and Hinton added 15 apiece. Sophomore Mateen Rafiq scored 11 off the bench, Josh Baldwin finished with 10 points and the Big Red got 38 points from its reserves. Cornell finished the night 32-for-70 from the field and knocked down 15 3-pointers with 19 assists as a team.
Fears Jr. led Michigan State with 21 points and 11 assists. Carr scored 19 points, Trey Fort added 14, Divine Ugochukwu had 12 and Jaxon Kohler posted 11 points and 10 rebounds as the Spartans placed six in double figures.
UP NEXT
• The Big Red returns home for the first time in more than a month when it closes its non-conference slate against Division III foe Alfred State on Friday, Jan. 2 at 2 p.m. at Newman Arena.
• The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
• The Big Red won the only previous meeting with the Pioneers, topping the visitors 107-29 on Jan. 10, 2015.
• The 29 points were the fewest surrendered in a contest since Sampson Naval Hospital scored 29 on Dec. 1, 1945.
