Gamecenter: Lehigh 83, Cornell 87

1st 2nd Final
Lehigh (0-1) 24 59 83
Cornell (1-0) 29 58 87
Newman Arena – Ithaca, NY Boxscore
Keys to the Game
Key sequence Lehigh used a 19-4 run bookending halftime to overcome a 15-point deficit and tie the game at 29-29 with 18:29 left to play, when Jason Hartford righted Cornell’s ship. The redshirt senior scored seven of the Big Red’s next 11 points on a bucket inside, a mid-range jumper, and a three-pointer, as Cornell jumped back out to a seven-point lead.
Key sign it was over A furious Lehigh rally cut a 14-point Big Red lead to just three with 15 seconds remaining. Louis Dale was fouled and hit one of two free throws to make it a two-possession game. Marquis Hall drove in for a layup to make it an 85-83 contest, but only two ticks were left on the clock. Dale was fouled and converted both free throws to ice the game.
Key performance The Mountain Hawks had no answer for Hartford, whose effectiveness on the perimeter stretched the Lehigh defense. Hartford led all scorers with 19 points and also had a team-high eight rebounds to go with a block in just 24 minutes on the court.
Key statistic The two team’s disparate performances at the free throw line had a big impact on the game’s outcome. Cornell sank 17 of 22 (77.3 percent) at the stripe — including 14 of its final 16 to hold off the late Lehigh charge. The Mountain Hawks were just 14 of 24 (58.3 percent) at the line.
Notes

– Ryan Wittman was 5 for 6 on the night — all three-point attempts — and finished with 15 points, while Dale registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 assists.

– Hall led Lehigh with 17 points, while Zahir Carrington and Bryan White each chipped in 16.

– The Big Red’s outside shots were falling, as it hit 10 of 17 (58.8 percent) from long range, while the Mountain Hawks were of 19 (36.8 percent).

– Sophomore transfers Collin Robinson and Andre Wilkins made their debuts in Cornell uniforms, with Robinson scoring eight points off the bench and Wilkins coming on to score nine points and grab six boards.

– The game was played at a very fast pace, with 80 possessions per team. The second half saw the two sides combine to score 117 points, as a game that was in the 20s at halftime ended up in the 80s.

– Cornell will have a week to prepare for its next game: a road date at Ohio on Saturday, November 17 at 7:00 pm ET.

Jake Wilson

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Basketball U.

Jake Wilson wrote 754 posts

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