MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – Men's basketball was defeated 67-63 in a non-conference battle against Cornell College on Monday, Dec. 18. The Knights are now 2-9 overall and remain 2-2 in American Rivers Conference play.
Game Summary
- First Half
- Marshun Williams scored the first seven points for the Knights, capped off by a three point play to tie the game at 7-7
- Richie Rosenblum answered a Cornell three pointer with a three of his own and then Ladwig took a steal all the way in for a three-point play to make the score 16-12 Wartburg with 12 minutes remaining in the half
- Williams stopped a 6-0 Rams run with a basket to tie the game at 18-18, but Cornell scored the next five points to lead 23-18 with 6:46 left in the first half
- Isaac Besh went 3/3 from the free throw line and then Ladwig connected from three to put Wartburg back in front 24-23
- Ethan Yungtum, Ladwig and Williams all scored to close the half as Wartburg took a 31-27 lead into the break
- Second Half
- Gabe Trujillo opened the half with two three pointers in the first minute for the Knights
- Cornell cut the Wartburg lead all the way to one multiple times before Williams and Trujillo both scored to keep the Knights in front 45-41 with 12:36 left to play
- The Rams scored seven straight points to take a 48-47 lead with just under 10 minutes left
- A Rosenblum three pointer and Trent Allard dunk put the Knights back in front 52-50
- Timely three pointers from Cornell put the Rams ahead 59-54 with five minutes to play
- A Besh three pointer made it a two point game with just over a minute to play, but Cornell closed the game out at the line to win 67-63
Top Performers
- Williams
- 15 points
- Three rebounds
- Two assists
- Ladwig
- 11 points
- Seven rebounds
- Four assists
- One steal
- Trujillo
- 11 points
- Two rebounds
- Two steals
Notes/Streaks
- Cornell has now won three out of the last five meetings
- Wartburg leads all-time series 27-17
- Williams has scored 15+ points in his last five games
- Zach Ingle scored 25 points for the Rams
- Knights were 14/23 from the free throw line
- Cornell won the rebounding battle 37-29
Next Time Out
The Knights are back in action next on Saturday, Dec. 30 on the road against Bethany Lutheran College at 2 p.m.