Men's Basketball News Releases

MOUNT VERNON — The Cornell men’s basketball team returned May 23 from its 12-day tour of Greece, which included three games against international opponents.

The Rams finished 1-2 on the trip, highlighted with a 71-69 overtime victory against Near East Basketball Club May 15 at Kesariani Stadium. Cornell fell 84-69 to Illisiakos Basketball Club May 14 at Zografou Stadium and then dropped a 68-64 decision to Kalamata May 21 at the Municipal Stadium in Kalamata.

“This was a tremendous experience for everyone involved,” Cornell head coach Mike DeGeorge said. “The combination of the ancient ruins and the differences in culture created a perspective that is impossible to gain without the experience. I believe this experience will continue to impact our lives and our global perspective for a long time.

“In the short term, it was a great basketball experience that has certainly aided our team unity and given us a jump start on our competition as we prepare to compete for an Iowa Conference championship in 2008-09.”

Cornell’s victory came against an opponent that won the all-Greece Level 3 professional league title this year. Chris Handke (Bellevue/Bellevue) paced the Rams with 13 points. Riley Larson (Cedar Rapids/Jefferson) and Griffin LaDew (Pewaukee, Wis./Waukesha Catholic Memorial) each added 11 points.

Tyler Cody (Roberts, Wis./St. Croix Central) netted a team-high 22 points in the opening-game loss to Illisiakos Basketball Club. Matt Lewis (Vinton/Southeastern) chipped in 12 points.

“Their two big guys were all-world caliber,” DeGeorge said. “One is invited to try out for the national team. Their other post played on the 19-and-under national team.”

J. Ryan Lott (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest) tossed in 13 points to lead the Rams in the final game. Andre Rattray (Palatine, Ill./ Palatine) and Cody scored nine points apiece, each hitting 3-pointers that helped the Rams tie the game at 60-60 in the fourth quarter.