The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/tag/basketball/)
“With this group, we never feel like we’re out of the game. Obviously 17 [points] is a big hole, but it’s not impossible. They keep working, and as long as we’re working, we have a shot.”
In what looked to be a tight matchup, the Red took advantage of hot shooting, going seven for 11 from beyond the arc in the second half to cruise to an 81-71 victory over Lafayette.
Following the past two losses against Marist and Rutgers, the home opener was a significant win for the Red early on in the season.
Sophomore guard Jake Fiegen emerged as the hero in Friday night’s exhilarating 88-86 victory, sinking a clutch three-pointer with just 0.8 seconds remaining on the clock.
This 2024-2025 men’s basketball schedule features several opponents that may be unfamiliar to Cornell fans, including Samford University. Coming from Homewood, Alabama, the Bulldogs traveled east to face off against the Red for the first time, marking the Red’s first Division-I game of the season. The Bulldogs, preseason favorites to win the Southern Conference, faced off against a Cornell squad ranked fourth in the Ivy League preseason standings. Before the game, Athletic Director Nicki Moore and the team unveiled the 2024 NCAA National Invitation Tournament banner, which is now displayed in the rafters of Newman Arena. The team also debuted new black uniforms, an alternate color recently adopted by several Cornell teams.
The Red’s starting lineup featured senior guard Nazir Williams, junior forward AK Okereke, senior forward Guy Ragland Jr., junior guard Cooper Noard and Fiegen. Samford won the opening tipoff and quickly got on the scoreboard.
While the Red will undoubtedly feel the absence of key, recently graduated players like Isaiah Gray ’24, Chris Manon ’24 and Keller Boothby ’24, the team’s new first-years and one transfer have quickly integrated into the team and are already contributing in significant roles.
The 2024 Red athletic season through my viewfinder: Throughout the spring semester, I have had the chance to cover several of Cornell’s athletic teams, including men’s and women’s hockey, basketball and lacrosse. Some of the most notable moments I witnessed include men’s hockey sweeping rival Harvard in the ECAC quarterfinals, women’s lacrosse earning its 27th straight win over Columbia and men’s lacrosse excelling against the top-ranked team in the country — Notre Dame. Overall, it was an incredibly successful year for the Red, with record-breaking seasons and commendable performances aplenty. Photos by Timmy Xi/Sun Staff Photographer
February 9 | “Focus”Izzy Daniel has her eyes locked on the puck in a win against RPI. February 17 | “Flying High”In a breakout season for men’s basketball, Chris Manon skies high for the bucket against Dartmouth.
“No one will play harder than us on the court. … Special things happen here, and we have all worked really hard to build this [program] where it is.”
2023-24 marked Cornell’s best season since its NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen run in the 2009-10 season. Earl’s team eclipsed the 20-win mark this season for the first time in 14 years.
In a bout where neither team led by more than five points in the final 17 minutes of the game, Cornell put up a good fight but ultimately fell to Ohio State, 88-83.
“This is a huge opportunity for us and the Ivy League because I believe Ivy basketball is the most underrated conference in college basketball. I feel like we’re going to prove that with our play in the NIT.”