PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Junior AK Okereke hit the go-ahead basket late in the second half, then blocked the game-tying shot attempt with less than three seconds remaining to help Cornell to an 85-81 victory over Brown on Saturday evening at the Pizzitola Sports Center. The Big Red snapped a four-game skid to improve to 14-10 (6-5 Ivy), while the Bears fell to 13-11 (5-6 Ivy).

Okereke's bucket along with his third blocked shot of the day was the difference in an exciting, end-to-end contest that put the Big Red into third place in the Ancient Eight standings with three games remaining. Cornell's effort included 21 offensive rebounds that led to 19 second chance points and an impressive 43-33 advantage on the backboards.

Cooper Noard scored 23 points as all five starters were in double figures - the junior hit 8-0of-11 shots and 5-of-8 3-pointers in a game that saw Cornell shoot just 39 percent for the game Guy Ragland Jr. had a monster game with 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists, Nazir Williams scored 13 points and both Okereke and Jake Fiegen tallied 10. Okereke added six assists, four rebounds and two steals along with the three blocked shots. 

Landon Lewis had 20 points and six rebounds to lead the Bears, while AJ Lesburt netted 16 and Malcolm Wrisby-Jefferson scored 14. Kino Lilly Jr. scored 13 pints and had 11 assists, but the Big Red defense hounded him into 6-of-20 shooting and 1-of-9 from beyond the 3-point arc. The Bears shot 48 percent overall, but were just 5-of-21 from beyond the arc and couldn't take advantage of its 46-30 scoring edge in the paint. 

Cornell struggled offensively at just 39 percent in the first half, but made toughness plays throughout. The Big Red held a 24-18 edge on the glass, including 12 offensive rebounds, and overcame Brown's 47 percent shooting to take a 45-40 edge into the locker room. The one player that didn't struggle was Noard, who hit all five of his shots, including four 3-pointers, for a game-best 16 points at the break. The visitors survived without AK Okereke for all but seven minutes in the first half with two fouls - he had two points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals in his limited time. Williams added nine points in the first half. The Bears got 10 points apiece from AJ Lesburt and Landon Lewis.

Cornell led by as many as 12 points early in a game that eerily mirrored the first meeting, won on last-second free throws by the Bears. The Big Red hit five early 3-pointers to get out to a lead, then watched as the Bears slowly clawed their way back. Though the Big Red led for more than 38 seconds and the Bears for less than a minute, it never felt as though the lead was secure.

Which brings us to 79-79 and three minutes left after Lilly hit a step-back jumper to knot the score. Okereke hit a fade-away to become the fifth Big Red player in double figures with 2:36 remaining, and after a pair of defensive stops, Ragland Jr. converted a pair of free throws after securing a rebound to make it an 83-79 game. Brown got a quick score and forced a Big Red miss with 10 seconds left to get the ball back. After a Brown timeout, the seas parted for Lilly Jr., the hero of the Bears' win in the earlier meeting after hitting a late free throw to win. This time, Okereke came from the weak side to cleanly block the shot, which was corralled by Williams with two seconds left. The senior connected on both free throws to essentially seal the win.

UP NEXT
• The Big Red returns to Newman Arena for a regular season-ending three-game home stand when it welcomes Penn to Ithaca on Friday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.
• The contest will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
• Cornell will attempt to complete the season sweep against the Quakers following the Big Red's 86-76 victory over Penn on Jan. 18 at the Palestra.