ITHACA, N.Y. – Senior Ryan Wittman scored 24 points, while Chris Wroblewski added 22, but it wasn't enough as the Big Red men's basketball team fell to Seton Hall, 89-79, this evening at Newman Arena. The loss is the first on the year for Cornell (2-1), while the Pirates improve to 3-0 on the year.

 

Wroblewski connected on 5-of-10 shots and was a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line, while adding five rebounds and five assists. Adam Wire shot 5-for-5 from the floor and added 1-of-2 free throws as the only other Big Red player in double-figures with 11 points. Jeff Foote led the team with 10 rebounds and added three blocks to bolster the defense.

 

Seton Hall was led by Jeremy Hazell's 33 points, while Jordan Theodore added 20. Robert Mitchell (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Herb Pope (11 points, 12 rebounds) both registered double-doubles.

 

Both teams were impressive from the floor with the Pirates connecting on 44.6 percent overall and 41.2 percent from beyond the arc, while Cornell shot 44.4 percent overall, but just 37.9 percent from 3-point range. Seton Hall outrebounded the Big Red, 43-36 and forced 13 Cornell turnovers with seven steals.

The home team jumped out to an 8-0 lead highlighted by consecutive treys by Wroblewski and Wittman after Tyler got the crowd jump-started by drawing a foul and hitting both charity shots. That would be the high-water mark, as the Pirates used a quick 8-0 run over 2:27 to tie it, then good the lead for good at 17-15 when Robert Mitchell put back an offensive rebound, one of 19 for the Pirates on the night. The visitors led by as many as nine in the first half, but after Cornell cut it to two, Pope drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send Seton Hall into the break up 40-35.

The crowd had a buzz of its own, and despite the energy, Cornell wasn't able to mount the second half charge it is known for at home. The SHU lead hit double figures four minutes into the second half and grew to as many as 18 before a late second-half 3-point barrage got Cornell back within seven (79-72) with just over a minute to play. The Pirates scored some late free throws to open the margin back to 10 at the final whistle.

The Big Red return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. when it heads up I-81 to face nationally ranked Syracuse at the Carrier Dome.