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Coming up — Monday, Dec. 31, at The Citadel, McAlister Field House, Charleston, S.C., 4:05 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 5, Central, Small Multi-Sport Center, Mount Vernon, 6 p.m.
Ram review – Cornell (3-6 overall, 1-0 Iowa Conference) surrendered a double-digit lead in the second half and suffered another tough nonconference defeat, 65-62, to Lakeland (Wis.) Dec. 20 at the Small Multi-Sport Center in Mount Vernon.
The Rams led by as many as 13 points in the first half and took a 34-27 advantage into intermission. A 3-pointer by Riley Larson (Cedar Rapids/Jefferson) stretched the Rams’ lead to 39-29 early in the second half before the Muskies began their comeback.
Cornell’s Jeff Bitter (Bettendorf/Bettendorf) hit a jumper that tied the game at 58-58 with 2 minutes, 30 seconds left in regulation. Lakeland answered with a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession and never trailed the rest of the way. Cornell missed its final four shots, including three 3-point attempts in the final 22 seconds that would have tied it.
Larson paced the Rams with 15 points despite playing only 17 minutes due to foul trouble. Chris Handke (Bellevue/Bellevue) netted 14 points behind 6-of-7 shooting and also grabbed seven rebounds. Griffin LaDew (Pewaukee, Wis./Waukesha Catholic Memorial) finished with 13 points and seven boards. Andre Rattray (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) dished out five assists in his first start of the season.
Cornell held the Muskies to 37.7 percent shooting (20-of-53) from the floor, but Lakeland made up for it by making 11 3-point goals and going 14-of-15 from the foul line.
Division I foe – Cornell meets its second NCAA Division I opponent nicknamed the Bulldogs this season when it visits The Citadel on New Year’s Eve at McAlister Field House in Charleston, S.C. The Citadel (4-6 overall, 0-2 Southern Conference) are coming off a 67-45 loss to No. 6 Washington State Dec. 20 in Seattle, Wash.
The Rams dropped a 92-55 decision at Division I Drake University Nov. 14 in Des Moines. That contest was ruled an exhibition for Cornell, but counted as an official game for Drake.
Down to the wire – Five of Cornell’s last six games have been decided by four points or less. The Rams have dropped three of those tight contests during their current four-game losing skid – 66-70 vs. Clarke Dec. 9, 80-83 at Faith Baptist Dec. 14 and 62-65 vs. Lakeland Dec. 20.
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