ITHACA, N.Y. -- Penn shot better than 55 percent from the field and held off a furious second-half Cornell comeback to halt the Big Red's three-game winning streak with a 91-81 victory on Saturday evening at Newman Arena. The Quakers and Big Red ended the night with identical 10-10 overall records and 3-4 league marks.
The Quakers scored 49 points in the opening 20 minutes and led by as many as 23 points, but the Big Red clawed back to within 49-35 at the break.. Penn built its advantage behind efficient perimeter shooting early, hitting 8-of-15 from 3-point range in the first half. Michael Zanoni and Ethan Roberts combined for 26 first-half points as the Quakers opened a double-digit lead midway through the period.
Cornell responded after halftime, making the Quakers uncomfortable and trimming the deficit to as few as two points. Senior Cooper Noard sparked the surge, knocking down 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to pull the Big Red within 69-67 with 7:30 remaining.
Penn answered each push with timely baskets and free throws, closing the game by converting 19-of-25 attempts at the line in the second half. Zanoni led the Quakers with 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while Roberts added 17 points and five assists. AJ Levine finished with 15 points and six assists, and Augustus Gerhart chipped in 13 points on a perfect 6-for-6 from the field.
Noard led Cornell with 28 points, hitting 6-of-12 from beyond the arc. Classmate Jake Fiegen added 23 points and four rebounds, while senior Adam Hinton scored 13 points and junior Jacob Beccles finished with 12 points, four assists and four steals.
Cornell shot 50 percent from the field in the second half and finished 14-of-33 from 3-point range, but Penn's efficiency and ability to get to the free-throw line proved decisive. The Quakers held a 36-26 rebounding edge and outscored Cornell 22-11 at the foul line.
NEXT UP
• Cornell will look for a season split against travel partner Columbia when the teams meet on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 2 pm. at Levien Gymnasium in New York City.
• The contest will be broadcast on ESPN+.
• Columbia earned a 104-99 decision over the Big Red on Jan. 5 in Ithaca in the Ivy opener for both teams.
• The Lions' win snapped a nine-game Cornell streak and last swept the Big Red in a series in 2015-16.
