Men's Basketball News Releases
Rams notch record-tying 18th win with rout of Wartburg
MOUNT VERNON - The Cornell College men's basketball team played championship-caliber defense on its way to a pair of quality Iowa Conference wins last week, capped with a school-record tying 18th victory Saturday.
The Rams (18-6 overall) avenged an earlier loss against Loras with a 70-54 rout over the Duhawks Feb. 11 in Mount Vernon. The win ended a 10-game series skid against Loras, dating to the 2003-04 season.
Cornell picked up a convincing 70-46 win over Wartburg Saturday in Waverly. The Rams equaled the school record for wins in a season, set by the 1960-61 squad that finished 18-6.
The Rams held Loras to its lowest point total in IIAC play this season. Cornell is only the second team to hold Wartburg under 50 points in a game this season.
"This was the best week of basketball we have played all year," Cornell head coach Mike DeGeorge said. "We needed to respond on the defensive end and on the glass after a poor performance at Buena Vista (Feb. 7). Our response was outstanding. We played the finest 80 minutes of defense this group has ever played.
"Our primary goal as a program from the time our current seniors first arrived on campus was constant improvement. We knew it would be an uphill battle, but if they could keep getting better, we thought eventually they would be good enough. Even to the last week of their senior seasons, they are still pushing the team to improve. We are very excited about the opportunity to set a school record for wins and about competing for an NCAA Tournament bid."
The Rams wrap up the regular season Wednesday at home against Central. With a victory over the Dutch, DeGeorge's 2008-09 Rams can lay claim as the winningest team in school history. Cornell can also earn a first-round bye and clinch the No. 2 seed in the IIAC Tournament with a win Wednesday or a Loras loss against Simpson.
The Rams (11-4 IIAC) have secured at least a tie for second place in the IIAC standings, their highest finish since joining the league in 1997-98. Buena Vista has clinched the outright league championship at 14-1. Loras is in third place at 9-5 with two IIAC games remaining.
Cornell 70, Wartburg 46 (Feb. 14, at Waverly)
The Rams outscored Wartburg, 42-20, in the second half in their most impressive road win of the season.
Cornell took a 28-26 lead into intermission, but the final 20 minutes belonged to the Rams. Cornell shot 51.7 percent in the second half and broke the game open with an 18-2 spurt. The Rams converted a sizzling 67.5 percent (25-of-37) of their 2-point field goals in the game.
"Our starting five outscored Wartburg 25-2 during their two stints on the floor over the first 10 minutes of the second half as our offense came to life," DeGeorge said.
Michael Tierney (Cedar Rapids/Jefferson) led a balanced scoring attack with 13 points. Chris Handke (Bellevue/Bellevue) finished with 12 points and five rebounds. Riley Larson (Cedar Rapids/Jefferson) and Griffin LaDew (Pewaukee, Wis./Waukesha Catholic Memorial) chipped in nine points apiece for the Rams, who had 11 players score.
Cornell 70, Loras 54 (Feb. 11, at Mount Vernon)
Cornell's five starters all scored in double figures in a win that propelled the Rams past Loras for second place in the league race.
Senior guards Tierney and LaDew tossed in 12 points apiece. Corey Dieser (Albert Lea, Minn./Albert Lea) and Larson each had 11 points and Handke added 10. Tierney also dished out five assists and Handke collected six rebounds.
The Rams pulled away with a 22-3 run that spanned both halves and gave Cornell a comfortable 48-27 lead with 14 minutes, 22 seconds remaining. Cornell committed only nine turnovers and limited the Duhawks to 28.6 percent shooting in the second half.
"Both teams fought so hard in the first half defensively any basketball purest would have enjoyed," DeGeorge said. "In the second half, we were able to put an offensive run together while sustaining our defensive approach from the first half and broke the game open."
Cornell rebounded from an 84-75 loss to Loras Jan. 14 in Dubuque.
Rams ‘D' up - Since a mid-January loss at Loras, the Rams are 8-2 and holding opponents to 39.4 percent shooting. In seven of those wins, Cornell held the opponent to 60 points or less.
The Rams lead the IIAC in 3-point percentage defense (31.7) and rank second in field goal percentage defense (40.2) and scoring defense (61.1 ppg).
