Athletics - Men's Basketball

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Coming up — Wednesday, Jan. 9, Simpson, Small Multi-Sport Center, Mount Vernon, 8 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 12, at Loras, Dubuque, 4 p.m.

Cornell (4-7 overall, 2-0 Iowa Conference) will try to snap a pair of seven-game losing streaks this week against Simpson (4-8, 1-2) and Loras (9-3, 3-0). The Rams are 4-16 all-time against Simpson in IIAC play, their last win (73-69) coming Jan. 24, 2004 in Mount Vernon. Cornell is 7-13 against Loras and hasn’t beaten the Duhawks in Dubuque since taking a 77-66 decision on Feb. 11, 2003.

“Simpson is an athletic team that will pressure us for 40 minutes. It is a huge game for us to build some momentum off our recent improvement,” Cornell head coach Mike DeGeorge said. “It will be a great challenge to go on the road at Loras and face the defending conference champions, who return all five starters. We have played a tough nonconference schedule that has helped us learn to play with anyone, but it will take a 40-minute effort to have a chance at Loras.”

Ram review – Junior guard Griffin LaDew (Pewaukee, Wis./Waukesha Catholic Memorial) scored eight of his game-high 27 points in the final 2 minutes, 16 seconds of regulation as Cornell reversed its recent fortunes with a 61-56 Iowa Conference win over Central Jan. 5 at the Small-Multi-Sport Center in Mount Vernon.

The Rams ended a five-game losing skid and held Central (8-2, 1-2) 25 points under its season scoring average. The Rams, who surrendered second-half leads in each of their last five losses, saw an eight-point advantage vanish against the Dutch. But this time Cornell came back and made key plays down the stretch.

“I was proud of the way our team responded, getting back from our (holiday) trip and having three quality days of practice and then playing our most complete game of the year,” DeGeorge said. “Our defense was excellent and keyed the victory.”

The Rams overcame a nine-point deficit early in the second half and took a 47-39 lead with 8:38 remaining. Central answered with a big run and went ahead, 53-51, with 2:29 to go when LaDew took over the game for the Rams. LaDew buried back-to-back 3-pointers to put Cornell ahead, 57-55, and then sealed the win with a pair of free throws in the final seconds.

“Griffin carried us offensively early and late,” DeGeorge said. “His two threes in the last two minutes were huge after we gave up the lead.”

LaDew shot 7-of-12 from 3-point range and notched his fourth 20-point game of the season. It was the second time this season in which LaDew made seven 3-pointers in a game, one shy of the school’s single-game record.

Freshman center Bryan Whitesel (Sioux Falls, S.D./O’Gorman) gave the Rams a boost off the bench, contributing eight points and five rebounds in only eight minutes of work. Chris Handke (Bellevue/Bellevue) shared game-high honors with nine rebounds.

Rams shoot for best start in IIAC – The Rams have equaled their best start in IIAC play since joining the league during the 1997-98 season. Cornell also started 2-0 in 2002-03, but has never won its first three conference games. The Rams are one of three unbeatens in IIAC play, joining Buena Vista and Loras which are both 3-0.

IIAC leaders – LaDew leads the league in 3-point goals made per game (3.27) and is fourth in scoring (16.8 ppg). Junior Michael Tierney (Cedar Rapids/Jefferson) ranks second in free throw percentage (88.2) and third in assists (3.83 apg). Handke is third in the IIAC with 2.82 offensive rebounds per game.