Men's Basketball News Releases

Tierney tosses in game-high 18 points for Rams

Coming up - Friday, Nov. 21, vs. Ripon, at Appleton, Wis., 5 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 22, at Lawrence, Appleton, Wis., 3 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 25, Faith Baptist, Small Multi-Sport Center, Mount Vernon, 8 p.m.

Ram review - Cornell opened the 2008-09 season with a strong showing on the road, shooting 58.7 percent from the field and rolling to a 65-47 victory over Knox Monday night in Galesburg, Ill.

Senior point guard Michael Tierney (Cedar Rapids/Jefferson) led all scorers with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds, sharing team-high honors with junior Matt Lewis (Augusta, Ill./Southeastern). Senior guard Griffin LaDew (Pewaukee, Wis./Waukesha Catholic Memorial) netted 15 points and junior center Chris Handke (Bellevue/Bellevue) chipped in 11.

Tierney, LaDew and Handke combined to shoot 19-of-26 (73.0 percent) from the floor for the Rams (1-0), who never trailed in the game. Cornell connected on 8-of-11 shots from 3-point range (72.7 percent) and outrebounded the Prairie Fire (0-1), 36-24. Knox was held to 31.7 percent shooting and went 1-of-16 from behind the arc.

LaDew and Tyler Cody (Roberts, Wis./St. Croix Central) each hit three 3-point goals and Tierney drained a pair from long range.

The Rams raced to a 12-2 lead in the opening four minutes and took a 33-23 lead into halftime. Knox never pulled closer than eight points in the second half.