Bucknell University
6-4
Cornell
3-5
Another Big Second Half Lifts Bucknell Men Past Cornell, 59-44
12/18/2004 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 18, 2004
ITHACA, N.Y. - After an 11-day hiatus for final exams, Bucknell picked up where it left off before the break, breaking open a close game with a huge second half en route to a 59-44 win over Cornell at Newman Arena on Saturday afternoon. In winning their third straight game and improving to 6-4 on the season, the Bison outscored the Big Red (3-5) 33-18 in the second half, thanks to improved rebounding and an array of fastbreak layups and dunks.
Chris McNaughton scored 15 points and Charles Lee had 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists to lead the Bison. Cody Toppert had 10 of his team-high 13 points in the first half, and Eric Taylor had 11 for Cornell.
Bucknell led 38-36 with 11:39 to play but outscored the Big Red 21-5 over the next nine minutes to pull away as Cornell managed only one more field goal until the final minute. Fastbreak baskets by Donald Brown and McNaughton stretched it to a six-point lead.
It was still just a five-point lead at 46-41 lead with 6:06 to play, but Lee's step-back 3-pointer from the left corner proved to be a game-changer, kick-starting a decisive 13-0 run. Chris Niesz followed with a put-back, McNaughton had a 3-point play and Lee added five more points on a follow and another trey.
The Bison scored 14 of its 33-second half points in transition as they dialed up the defense in the late stages. Bucknell outrebounded Cornell 34-30 for the game after trailing in that category in the first half. Bucknell also finished with a season-best 17-11 assist-turnover ratio.
The teams played to a 26-all tie after one period. The Bison took the largest lead of the half at 12-7 on a 3-pointer by Bettencourt, who scored eight of Bucknell's first 12 points. Cornell answered with five straight, and the lead would change hands five times over the remainder of the half.
Bucknell forced 14 Cornell turnovers and held leading scorer Lenny Collins (18.9 ppg) to only four points, all in the first half, on 2-for-12 shooting. The Big Red came into the game averaging 69.4 points per game but were held to a season-low 44 on Saturday.
The Bison shot 60.0 percent in the second half (15-25) and 49.0 percent for the game. Cornell shot 25.0 percent in the second half and 31.4 percent overall. Bucknell got big bench minutes from Niesz with six points and five rebounds.
Point guard Abe Badmus spearheaded the defense with three steals and seven rebounds in addition to six points. McNaughton also had seven caroms as the Bison outrebounded Cornell 20-10 in the second half.
Bucknell won a similar style game at Sojka Pavilion just before the break in a 60-45 win over Robert Morris. The Bison led that game by just a point at the half before breaking away. Bucknell held consecutive opponents under 50 points for the first time since January 2003 against Lafayette and Colgate.
The Bison have now won four if their last five against Cornell and pulled to within 21-19 in an all-time series that dates back to 1898. At 6-4 Bucknell has matched its best 10-game start in the last 14 years. The Bison were also 6-4 in 1999-2000, 1992-93 and 1991-92.
Bucknell returns to action on Wednesday when Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference power Niagara visits Sojka Pavilion at 7 p.m.
