ALBANY, N.Y. — The men’s basketball team couldn’t repeat its success against Siena last year, losing 74-56 after defeating the Saints last season in Ithaca. Still without the services of junior Louis Dale, the Red did not shoot well from the field, connection on 35 percent, including 7-of-24 from downtown.

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Siena’s Kenny Hasbrouck led all scorers with 22 points, five rebounds and four assists. Jeff Foote led Cornell with 14 points and five rebounds, junior Geoff Reeves dropped in 13 points and four assists. Junior Ryan Wittman turned in his worst performance of the year, after scoring 11 points on 4-of-17 shooting.

The Cornell and Siena men’s basketball teams have a lot in common — both are New York mid-majors, which won their leagues last year (Ivy League and Metro At­lantic Ath­letic Con­fe­rence, respectively) and are the unanimous picks to repeat on the strength of largely returning starting rosters.

“We probably do have a better handle on what to expect from [Siena] since we played them last year,” said senior co-captain Jason Battle. “We know they’re a good team, they made the NCAA tournament last year and even won a game.”

Witty guy: Junior forward Ryan Wittman got his first career double-double against Siena last year. The Red visit the Saints tomorrow night.

BOSTON — Junior guard Ryan Wittman scored a game high 24 points, including all seven of his free throws, to lead Cornell over Loyola of Maryland 82-72 in a game that showcased two teams exhausted from a long weekend of tournament play that resulted in the match-up in the consolation game of the East Region at the NIT Season Tip-Off, held at Boston College.Calling the shots: Junior forward Ryan Wittman’s game-high 24 points propelled the Red past Loyola, 82-72, in Boston yesterday.

Cornell had played a game 19 hours earlier, a close 80-75 loss to St. Johns, while Loyola had played four games in five days, including a blowout loss to the host Eagles Monday.

By Daniel Popko

Sun Contributor

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — Down 80-75 with less than a minute remaining, the men’s basketball team was unable to convert on a fast break off a steal, missing a jumper that Anthony Mason Jr. took the other way for an easy lay-up.

St. John’s made its free throws down the stretch and walked out of Boston College’s Conte Forum with an 86-75 victory in the first round of the Dick’s NIT Season Tip-Off. Mason Jr. finished the game with 24 points to lead the Red Storm while sophomore D.J. Kennedy contributed 16 of his 22 points in the first half.

The banner celebration of the men’s Ivy League championship didn’t last too long. The Red got down to business Friday night, beating new Division I team South Dakota, 79-69, Friday night. With the Red’s typical backcourt sidelined with injuries, junior Ryan Wittman tied a career-high, scoring 25 points and pacing the Red in a double-digit win.

“Any time you take the player of the year off a team it’s going to hurt,” Wittman said of Ivy League Player of the Year Louis Dale, who sat with a hamstring injury. “But a lot of different people stepped up. Geoff Reeves, Chris [Wroblewski] stepped in late in the game. We all made plays.”

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Men's Basketball Season Preview

After months of basking in post-title glow, the men’s basketball team will now raise its 2007-08 Ivy League championship banner at Newman Arena — the ceremony will take place just before tip-off tonight in the Red’s season opener against South Dakota, recently moved up from Division II.

“[Starting the new season is] actually kind of nerve-wracking,” said senior center Jeff Foote. “I really just want to be out there and finally play [another team] … It’s good to have the crowd behind you.”

As last season came along, the trio of senior co-captain Adam Gore and juniors Louis Dale and Ryan Wittman were feared by the Red’s opponents. The ability of Gore and Wittman to spread the floor with their long distance touch complemented by aggressive play from Dale led the Red to one of the most memorable seasons in Cornell basketball history. Fans of the Red will have to wait to see the combination again as Gore will be sitting out until at least the beginning of the Ivy League season after tearing his ACL in practice. While the team waits for Gore’s return, players such as junior Geoff Reeves and freshman Chris Wroblewski will be asked to help replace the senior’s production.

Junior Ryan Wittman is arguably the most acclaimed Cornell basketball player in recent memory. He was Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2006-07, the same season that he collected six Ivy League Rookie of the Week awards, while setting a school freshman scoring record and reaching double digits in 25 of the team’s 28 games. Last season, Wittman was the team’s leading scorer. A unanimous pick for first team All-Ivy, he contributed in all aspects of the game — his 4.4 rebounds per game are especially impressive considering how often he plays from the outside.

“I have great confidence that he’s going to get better,” said head coach Steve Donahue. “People don’t realize, but he’s a great defensive rebounder and he’s a terrific defender right now.”

After being picked 21st overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2007 NHL entry draft, sophomore Riley Nash came to Cornell in the face of big expectations. In his rookie season, Nash did not disappoint his coaches, teammates or the Lynah Faithful, as he performed exceptionally in all aspects of the game.

Nash’s line of 12 goals and 20 points in 36 games last year was good enough to earn him several honors and awards, including Ivy League Rookie of the Year and ECAC Hockey Freshman of the Year. Coming into this season, Nash is expected to provide even greater production for the Red.